– Kissoon blasts govt over Linden hospital
Minutes after Minister within the Health Ministry Dr Bheri Ramsaran argued that the 2010 budget provided for continued development in the health sector, PNCR-1G MP Vanessa Kissoon blasted the government for its failure to adequately equip the new Linden Hospital Complex which was commissioned a few months ago.
During the budget debates on Monday, Dr Ramsaran said that while the opposition parties may want to criticize the government for its failure to implement some of the projects highlighted in the 2006 manifesto, this budget should be seen as “a roll-over” of what had already been achieved. He said this was a consolidation of what has been done in previous budgets.
Ramsaran noted that government had made massive investments in infrastructure; building good quality hospitals. While admitting that at present these hospitals may not be fully staffed, he said this problem is in the process of being addressed shortly.
During his presentation, Ramsaran highlighted progress in the East La Penitence Health Centre which he said was constructed to meet the needs of the community. He said that since its commissioning this facility has even expanded its services as he noted that dental services were added within the second week of its operation.
“There is a change in the landscape of the health sector and this is not only in terms of infrastructure; in terms of providing consistently and in an expanding fashion the brainpower to man these facilities,” he said.
Expanded training
The minister noted that over the last two years the government has invested heavily in training auxiliary staffers to assist the doctors and nurses in delivering quality care and this includes training for the X-ray technicians, pharmacists and pharmacists’ assistants and dental technicians.
He said right now 150 young people are being trained in Georgetown in 10 different areas including x-ray technicians, support staff for laboratories and the refractionists. He said that this year the government will be allocating $190 million for training, a significant increase from the $140.9 million spent last year.
Meanwhile, the minister also argued that the administration has put eye care on the front
burner. He noted the development of the National Ophthalmology Hospital which he said benefited several Guyanese. He also said that currently at the Diamond Hospital, 80 patients visit the facility on a daily basis for eye diseases.
He said contrary to what was being peddled the budgetary allocations are benefiting the people, since the funds allow for the consolidation of existing services as well as for the introduction of new ones.
The minister concluded his presentation by contradicting statements from the opposition parties by saying that the budget “is very inspiring” and that “it generates a lot of hope”.
Meanwhile, Kissoon, who is the Region Ten representative fro the main opposition party, highlighted a series of problems in Linden but spent a lot of time on the state of the recently commissioned Linden Hospital Complex.
She said the hospital had a shortage of staff, equipment and drugs and was in no way able to deliver the comprehensive health care that was promised when it was commissioned in December. According to her, some sections of the hospital are inoperable because of the lack of vital equipment such as CT scans, ultra sound machines as well as intensive care monitors.
She said that it is the norm for patients to be referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. She also harped on the absence of trained staff and called for this to be urgently remedied by the administration.
Regarding the housing sector, Kissoon complained about government’s failure to set up the Regional Housing Committee which had been tasked with distributing house lots. She said this committee has not been in operation for two years now, and this has allowed the government to manipulate the issuing of house lots.
The PNCR-MP also called for an improvement of the water supply in the region. Holding a sample of the water in her hand, Kissoon argued that the mauby- coloured water was the cause of much sickness in the region.
She called too for resources to be allocated to improving the lives of young people who had difficulties acquiring jobs. Kissoon contended that the government’s handling of the bauxite industry had caused many to lose jobs.
She urged the government to deal with this industry fairly.
Meanwhile, Kissoon advocated for viable incentives for farmers and other business persons, for licensing for private radio and television stations in the region and for the Linden/Soesdyke highway to be rehabilitated.
