Regional Health Officer (RHO) for Demerara-Mahaica, Dr. Quincy Jones has promised that there will be an increase in training opportunities for medical personnel within the region.
According to a release yesterday from Region Four, Dr. Jones said that this forms part of the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC’s) vision of further strengthening and improving the effectiveness of medical personnel at the various health centres in Region Four
“Since assuming the office of Regional Health Officer, it has been part of my overall vision and mandate to increase training as with improved and increased training then there will certainly be an overall improvement in the healthcare that is given to the general public,” he said. Dr. Jones pointed out that a number of persons continue to seek medical care at the two premier public hospitals in the region: GPHC and Dia-mond, noting that in many circumstances the services that they are seeking can be offered by their respective health centres.
“You have situations whereby persons go to either GPHC or Diamond Hospitals for services that they could have received at their health centres and as such, they are forced to wait for long hours because of the immense pressures on the medical personnel at these two hospitals. However, we are seeking to bring our medical personnel at the various health centres up to par and to ensure that they are trained effectively in a number of areas and ways, thus ensuring that they can render some of the services that they are seeking elsewhere,” he said.
The release said that Region Four REO Pauline Lucas said that she is pleased with the level of professionalism, improvement, and management that Dr. Jones has brought with him since assuming the role of RHO.
“This is a young man who truly understands the needs and concerns of the ordinary man and also is very skilful in building and motivating his staff to achieve set targets thus there has been evident improvement and growth since he has taken over the reins of the region’s health sector. I am satisfied and with his level of professionalism and management, we at Region Four (are) certainly heading in the right direction,” Lucas declared.
Dr. Jones said that persons seeking services at the various health centres in Region Four can be assured of sustained developments and improved results.
“It’s no secret that the general public has concerns over the health care services that they receive from the government-run institutions thus resulting in some seeking private services, but I want to assure all that we within the region with the RDC’s support is working towards holistic development,” he declared
Lucas in commenting on the training opportunities that will be made available to staff with the Regional Health Department urged those benefiting to be dedicated and disciplined.
“As the REO I have and will continue to stress the importance of equal opportunities and to say that my office will continue to support the programmes and mandate of the Regional Health Officer as he continues to enhance and further develop our health sector,” she said in the release.
Dr. Jones said that while they have already completed several training programmes thus far for the year, there are quite a number of additional training programmes that will be implemented. In addition, another four doctors have been added to the region’s health sector.
