The West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) and the Skeldon Hospital will be able to offer improved services when rehabilitation at the two facilities to the tune of $37 million and $18.3 million respectively is completed.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA) on Thursday last, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Hydar Ally signed a $37 million contract for the WDRH in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), which would see an upgrade of the in-patient area, theatre and the maternity ward. The completion of the rehabilitation works will enable the institution to provide quality services to the region and reduce the inflow of patients at the East Demerara Regional Hospital and the Georgetown Public Hospital, GINA stated. The rehabilitation work is expected to be concluded in 18 weeks.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Ally a second contract for expansion work at the Skeldon Hospital, in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne).
This will facilitate the upgrade of the in-patient area, theatre, dentistry section, kitchen, laundry room, canteen, maternity ward and the roof, GINA reported. The rehabilitation work is expected to be completed in three months.
Work is also under way at the De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara, health facility where improvements are being made to the internal water system.
These expansion and rehabilitation works, GINA added, will aid the sector in the reduction of child and maternal mortality rates, and the spread of HIV/AIDS and other health issues.
GINA also said that to complement the ongoing expansion of health facilities nationwide the ministry is dispatching Guyanese doctors, trained in Cuba, to aid in strengthening the work force.
A sum of $13.3 billion was allocated in the 2010 budget for infrastructural and personnel upgrades in the health sector with $1.4 billion for sustained construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of health facilities nationwide, GINA added.
