Residents of the Mon Repos area, particularly those with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, will no longer have to travel far for medical attention with the reopening of the Mon Repos Health Centre yesterday.
Previously offering services just three days a week, the reconstructed heath centre will now operate from Monday to Friday during regular business hours.
While the centre was out of operation, residents of the area were forced to travel to either Beterverwagting or Buxton to receive medical attention.
Health Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Hamilton said yesterday that as a result, those clinics were burdened with high volumes of patients and the staff were forced to “ration” medical attention.
He noted that through the regional health services, the government wanted to “ensure healthcare is dispensed equitably through the length and breadth in Guyana”. Hamilton said Guyana had a history of village dispensaries with hospitals and health centres being more centralised.
While one of the challenges facing the reopened centre would be finding staff, the Health Ministry is addressing that issue, Hamilton said, adding, “people involved in policy … have to make things happen.”
Hamilton noted that prior to the centre being reconstructed and more services being offered, the lack of financing was cited as an issue. However, he said, this mentality had to stop and policy makers had to find the money and utilise it to better serve the public. “We want all and sundry to know that a full health centre exists in Mon Repos,” Hamilton stated.
Regional Health Officer Dr Vasha Bachan said the health centre would be able to offer a diabetic clinic and would serve the elderly who had various chronic health care issues. She told Stabroek News that the newest introductions to the clinic were family planning, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) testing and child and maternal healthcare.
She said that while the centre was quite small, there was room for expansion in the future.
When Stabroek News spoke with residents they were pleased to have a centre in the area. “We have a lot of elderly in the area. They would have to travel too far. Now they have the centre right here…,” one resident stated. Yet another resident stated that the placement of a VIA nurse meant that women’s healthcare needs were being addressed and this was a positive step.
The Mon Repos Health Centre will still be utilising regional health services like mobile dentistry and eye care as the health centre is not large enough to accommodate these services.
