Chief Executive Officer, Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) Dr Vishwa Mahadeo has announced that equipping the Bara Cara Health Centre with electricity and water would be a priority this year.
The Member of Parliament made the announcement during his address to the gathering at the recently held Bara Cara health centre day.
Mahadeo disclosed that the installation of solar panels for the utilities would come on stream as soon as the 2014 Budget is approved. He also urged the residents to care for the infrastructure. “You have to take responsibility for these things. If not, we in New Amsterdam would not suffer but you would. I could recall years gone
by the health centre had electricity,” he said. Mahadeo also noted that five million dollars had been spent on rehabilitation of capital works for the health facilities.
In brief remarks, senior health visitor Terry Davis congratulated the health centre Medex and staff for their services to the riverain communities. She noted too that she was impressed that they have been improving and upgrading their health centre.
However, Davis expressed disappointment with residents bypassing the health centre and travelling to New Amsterdam for basic medical attention. She explained that the health centre was there to offer immediate medical attention and to provide a more comfortable life. “You are claiming it is your facility… but if you are bypassing this facility for simple things like vaccines and going to New Amsterdam, then this facility would serve no use.”
Davis urged the residents to utilise the health centre to their advantage. The residents were told to work out a plan with the Medex so that they could have their vaccines delivered.
The BRHA CEO had the same opinion as Davis. He noted that when the medical facility did not have a Medex, the residents were constantly asking for a Medex. “Now you have a Medex and you are not using the Medex,” he stated. He said that the health authority understood that test and x-rays were needed from time to time, “but large laboratory equipment cannot come to these facilities… But we can organise a day for you to come out to the New Amsterdam hospital and have all your tests and check-ups done.”
However, Medex Carl Amsterdam, in his report on the medical facility for the year stated that they had over 1,000 patient contacts for the past year. He also said during the year, outreach clinics were also held for the neighbouring communities of Tacoba and Ikruwa. He said the outreach clinics were made possible since the boat and engine had been provided to the health centre in 2013.
Amsterdam disclosed that on a daily basis general outpatient clinics are held. He noted that special clinics were also facilitated with infant and preschool clinics on Mondays, family planning on Tuesdays, hypertension and diabetics on Wednesdays, antenatal on Thursdays and home visits on Fridays.
A shed was also erected for the Bara Cara Health Centre through the support of the Management Committee, disclosed Amsterdam. It was also noted that during the year a generator had be donated to the health centre to be used at nights.
Bara Cara ‘Health centre day’ has been an annual event for the recent years in the community. It was said to be one of the anticipated events as the community looked forward to the chance of having open discussions with officials from the government. The community is located approximately 50 miles up the Canje River. Also in attendance were Region 6 officials and MP Dharamkumar Seeraj.
