The Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in collaboration with the Ministry of Health launched their Mobile Health Van on Thursday.
President of the Seventh-day Adventists group Dr Hilton Garnett told a press conference that the current administration of the churches now “emphasizes more community visibility and involvement.” On January 20 the group started a programme that fed about 450 beggars three times weekly and as a means of complementing this programme, the idea of the mobile health clinic was born. Garnett said the idea was shared with the different sub-sections of the constituency in North America which endorsed it as a worthwhile endeavour.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy says he sees the acquisition of the unit as a “national asset.” He said some years ago health was seen as a “favour” the government provided its people but that approach has now changed and it is now seen as a “fundamental right of the people …and it is an obligation on the Ministry of Health to provide health care and find those that needs it.” The minister urged all NGOs and those affiliated to the private sector to strive to “develop community directed activities that are not for profit” which in turn will help to improve the quality of health care in Guyana.
The van was acquired at a sum of $8M and was imported through the ministry duty-free. It was made possible through donations from overseas-based Guyanese based in California. It was sourced through an overseas company and is fully equipped with both air conditioning and a generator to power the machines. The unit will be able to provide a number of services including cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension screening, Body Mass Index (BMI) tests and HIV/AIDS/Health Education lectures. It can accommodate three workstations inside and the canvas attached to it can be used as a fourth serving area where registration can be done. Garnett said too an ear-testing machine was donated and they also have in their possession an asthma examination machine donated by the wife of the late Dr Festus Brotherson.
All the services will be conducted under the auspices of the Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists and the Davis Memorial Hospital. Nurse Esther Premdas-Quashie has volunteered to be the director of operations on the van. Ramsammy said too the ministry will staff the van and cover the cost of fuel during Carifesta X “since we have a responsibility to take care of ourselves as a people and our expectant visitors.”
The van will be operational throughout the year and will be used to provide health services in different communities.
