– as new Linden facility opens
Government is placing special emphasis on the staffing of new and existing medical facilities through an ambitious programme which seeks to improve health care through partnership, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced yesterday when he opened the new Linden Hospital Com-plex (LHC).
Addressing the gathering of senior functionaries, management and staff of the LHC and residents of Linden, Jagdeo noted the importance of the new structure and government’s commitment towards its maintenance. He said government has committed unsponsored funds this year towards the construction of some five health facilities. “The hospital is very important… We have constructed the Ophthalmology Centre, the four regional hospitals [and] the facility at Lethem. Five of them were constructed with funds coming from our budget, local funds and not from loans or funds from abroad. They were constructed with our own revenue, this is a major difference,” Jagdeo said.
Jagdeo said it was noted that the spending would be inadequate if focus was placed specifically on buildings hence the implementation of an ambitious programme for the staffing of health care facilities. He said that between 2009 and 2012 in excess of 400 Guyanese doctors would be added to the public health care system and the process is being replicated through the training of nurses.
He said the government’s investments have not fallen by the wayside since there is evidence of positive change. He alluded to the investments made in the fight against HIV/AIDS. “Today, because of this very aggressive programme we have turned the corner from the statistics that we are seeing. [However] the epidemic is not over so there is no room for complacency.”
And he noted that overall, “our life expectancy rate is growing again; infant mortality rate has fallen; … more than 95% of our population received their vaccinations. These are very important qualitative indicators for the spending in the health sector and we should be very proud of these.”
According to Jagdeo, Region 10, and more so Linden, holds a special place in the development of the country. But he noted that there were problems. He referred to the planned aluminum plant as a casualty of global crisis as it would have been one of the largest investments ever for Guyana.
Since the new Linden Hospital became functional in July, some seven new doctors were added to the team. In addition to the Medical Superintendent, there are four Chinese medical specialists, a visiting orthopaedic surgeon, an infectious care doctor who is located at the Upper Demerara Hospital and two medics. There are also visiting specialists for dermatology and psychiatry.
The hospital has approximately 128 nursing personnel on staff, while a further 218 are enrolled at the Charles Rosa School of Nursing in Linden and are being trained to take up positions at the Linden hospital as well as elsewhere in Region 10 and in regions seven, eight and nine.
There are also members of staff currently being trained as pharmacy assistants, anaesthetic nurses, orthopaedic technicians and rehabilitation assistants.
Addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony, Chief Executive Officer Gordon Gumbs said that although the transition to the new hospital has gone well there are still minor adjustments being made to the way things were done previously. He added that they are not completely relocated since some sections are still in the old building.
“Up to last weekend, work was being done on ensuring the medical gas systems successfully undergo all the required purity tests. We are closer to ensuring that the operating theatre and consequently maternity ward move over,” Gumbs said, adding that he firmly believes that the remaining sections can be transferred before the end of December.
Gumbs is of the opinion that with proper care and maintenance the facility can last for 90 to 100 years. He said the previous building was constructed in 1925 by the Demerara Bauxite Company (Demba) and served the community and its environs faithfully for 84 years.
“If a wooden building that suffered severely from termite infestation could serve this period, then the 50 years the consultants projected as the life of the facility could be a conservative estimate,” Gumbs said.
The new facility has two operating theatres and an intensive care unit. There are two labour and delivery rooms and the laboratory, x-ray, rehabilitation and pharmacy departments now operate with ample space. Microbiology testing now offers interesting possibilities including a resumption of water sample testing. The outpatient department is now separated from the emergency department.
Among those present to witness the opening ceremony were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony and his wife Dr Shanti Singh, who is the Head of the National AIDS Programme, among others.