With a budget of $14 billion this year the health sector is expected to improve and expand on services countrywide, but training appears to be the focus in 2011.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh declared yesterday during his budget presentation that government made good progress in the areas of child and maternal mortality in 2010. But the sector came in for sharp criticism in both areas, particularly for a maternal health programme that failed many young mothers.
Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy even had reason to say that something had gone wrong in the health system which might have led to the deaths. He said too that the number of recorded maternity deaths was the highest in six years.
Singh said that a total of $345 million has been budgeted for training activities in the health sector this year, which will provide for an additional 250 professional nurses being trained and 140 clinical and technical staff, while other 280 students in various health disciplines are currently in training across the various schools.
Singh said also that health workers’ capacity will continue to be developed through continuing education for nurses and midwives. Additionally, the Medex and Community Health Worker curriculum will be revised and the training programmes strengthened, while the postgraduate training programme for nurses will be expanded and a new Nurses Psychiatric Programme will be introduced.
The finance minister said that over $1 billion has been allocated for the construction and maintenance of health sector buildings and infrastructure countrywide, including $150 million to commence preparatory work to design a 150-bed surgical hospital which will conduct specialist surgical procedures, including invasive cardiology and radiation oncology.
The government will also construct an in-patient ward at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, and a new emergency ward at Fort Wellington Hospital.
In addition, a storage bond in Diamond will be completed in 2011, while another $235 million has been set aside for the completion of the Georgetown Public Hospital in-patient facility.
There are also plans this year to upgrade the facilities at Enmore Polyclinic, West Demerara Hospital, Leguan, and Oscar Joseph hospitals.
Further, Singh announced that the Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) will be de-decentralized to the regions, while the enablers programme will expand to Region 6. He said too that the Roll Back Malaria Initiatives are planned to address preventive measures, early diagnosis and effective treatment.
