One week after the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) publicised its concerns about the stockpiling of used sharps at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) and the burning of waste in the open air, the Ministry of Health has resolved these issues and has taken steps to correct other abnormalities at the institution.
Minister of Health Bheri Ramsaran acknowledged that it was the Stabroek News article published a few weeks ago that alerted him about the problems.
He also said that if earlier reports had been made, he would have taken corrective action sooner.
“I was so shocked and disappointed to see for the first time this report in your newspapers. This is because I know there was a meeting at the Regency Hotel around the same time they said the problems began and no one said anything then…no one stood up and say we have this big problem in Linden. Management and poor communication is the problem,” Ramsaran said. The issue was resolved one week after publication, he added.
Ramsaran said that it was negligence on the part of administrators that resulted in the problem at the LHC. “Again I say administration and management is the issue …I am not going to exclude my people because they need to know what is going on. They need to be there either in person or virtually,” he said. Further, he added that when his administrative staff is found wanting he “blazes” them for their laxity and counterproductive attitudes and will analyze whether there should be an accountability evaluation done.
A few weeks ago a team of officials from the Region 10 RDC, led by Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon and Chairman of the RDC’s Health Committee Maurice Butters visited the LHC, where they were greeted with a slew of complaints about shortcomings at the facility.
The stocking up of used sharps over an extended period and the burning of waste in the open air were major concerns. This was due to the non-functioning of a $5M furnace that had been built parallel to the construction of the new hospital and the incinerator.
Checks on Tuesday revealed that the shortly after the team’s visit and the publication of the issues by this newspaper, a technician from Georgetown visited the location and as a result a blockage in the furnace was corrected and it has been put back into operation.
However, the burning of solid waste remains a source of complaints. Currently, solid waste is being burnt in the old incinerator, which has neither door nor roof, so fumes are not contained. Solomon said that the RDC will continue to be vigilant and steadfast in its advocacy to ensure that the LHC gets the needed interventions to ensure the effective delivery of health care.
At the same time, the ministry remains adamant that hospitals administration need to be more proactive and vigilant.
Ramsaran said his ministry recognises that health administrative staff is in high demand and as a result training will be considered. “Searching for specialist managers is tough but we know there needs to be more… it’s a special group that is in high demand all over the world so we looking at training in the interim while we work to have this group reach their maximum potential,” he said.
