The condition of the National Psychiatric Hos-pital in New Amsterdam, Region Six, has been described as ‘disgraceful’ by Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton following his visit there on June 3.
GINA said that the Minister interacted with staff members who expressed concerns regarding water supply, which they have not been receiving for the past two months. They also cited problems with electricity, telephone service and furniture.
“It is pitiful to see the conditions where we have our Guyanese brothers and sisters dwelling… the wards are being cleaned with water from the drain and persons are bathing with and even drinking. This has been going on for two months, this is totally unacceptable,” the Minis-ter declared.
During a walk through of the institution, GINA said that it was observed that there are currently four to five store rooms packed with items stored in an improper manner and which are therefore being destroyed.
“One would question why are we wasting things like moisturisers, tissues, bed spreads and chairs, so many things that the hospital needs. What was also surprising is that there are a number of vehicle tyres and jacks that the administration claimed were bought for the Ministry of Health’s vehicles,” Norton said. He noted that he was informed that most of the vehicles are down and someone has to answer “why that quantity and what are they doing in the store room of the hospital.”
Further, some electrical instruments are in the kitchen stores. It was also mentioned that the patients had no milk recently, but there is a large quantity of it in the stores.
“…There again I say the best system will fail if we do not have the personnel… and I as the Minister of Health will put the right person in place,” Norton said.
The newly constructed Acute Care Centre, located in the hospital’s compound will be investigated, according to Dr. Norton. He said that the entire structure is improper; the building is dark and definitely cannot function without electricity. There is also a canteen which was also built without a tender.
The Minister promised that these systems will change. He told GINA that the Ministry will re-establish the Mental Health Unit, with the aim of ensuring that all Guyanese have access to psychiatric care and evaluation. That unit will include clinical psychologists and psychiatrists.
