The New Amsterdam Hospital medical laboratory received certification from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) making it one of a small number of medical laboratories that have been thus certified.
At a simple ceremony to mark the occasion, the hospital noted that it had been trying to get certified over a number of years but always encountered a setback. CEO at the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) Dr Vishwa Mahadeo said it was not easy for the institution to meet the standard and as such he charged the laboratory staff to adhere to the guidelines. He also encouraged them to be an example for other laboratories to emulate.
Allan Johnson, CEO of the New Amsterdam Hospital, also acknowledged that gaining the certification was a challenge and that keeping it would be another challenge. He said certification shows that a quality service is being provided and as such lab staff must continue to provide that level of service. He also took the opportunity to challenge other hospitals and laboratories to strive to gain certification.
According to Jaiwattie Mangal, senior medical technologist, it was the hospital’s goal to become certified. The laboratory is now equipped with documented systems to demonstrate how it is operated and to ensure that there is transparency and consistency in results.
In his remarks Dr Juhan Amsterdam, Director of Standards and Technical Services, noted that with this achievement Region Six and the BRHA are a great example to the other public health facilities in the country. He said the ministry wants all facilities to be certified and provide quality health services and gave assurances that it is working to achieve this goal.
In presenting the certificate to the hospital, Executive Director (ag) of the GNBS Evadnie Enniss said this is the ninth medical lab and the tenth laboratory in Guyana to be certified by the GNBS. She said that the certification process does not stop and urged the laboratory to continue striving for the best. She then challenged the laboratory and the ministry to expand their services as it is the main laboratory in Region Six.
Enniss also said that resources should be made available to the staff and that the laboratory should get involved in the proficiency testing programme. She also told laboratory technicians that they should try to resolve problems as they pop up and not allow them to overwhelm them.
Regional Chairman David Armogan, National Coordinator – Laboratory Service at the ministry Joyce Whyte-Chin, Medical Superintendent at the New Amsterdam Hospital Dr Mohamed Yacoob, and others extended best wishes for the lab’s continued success.
