The Ministry of Public Health will work with the Mabaruma Regional Hospital to deploy a health team, including specialists into riverine areas along the Barima River in Region One, the Department of Public Information (DPI) said on Monday.
This follows a meeting between Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence and Toshao of Smith Creek, Sherman Lewis. According to Lewis, although the Morawhanna Health Post is across the river from his village, some of his residents find it difficult to journey across. In addition, the health post is only staffed with a Community Health Worker who is not trained to diagnose and deal with complex illnesses.
This particular health facility is earmarked to be upgraded from a level one (health post) to a level two health facility (health centre). The Toshao added that not everyone in his village has a boat which can transport them to the Kumaka Waterfront where they can go to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital.Lawrence told the residents of Smith’s Creek: “Your toshao will speak with the doctor at Mabaruma Hospital and we will make that arrangement to bring the doctors here so that they can look at all of the people in this community including the children… We want you all to be healthy.”
The minister also heard of the Venezuelan migrants that have settled in Smith Creek and nearby villages. She said that with the movement of migrants into these communities, her ministry is working to ensure residents are not exposed to any health risks. Lawrence said that other villages where migrants have settled or are still settling in will also receive visits from medical teams. DPI said that Toshao Lewis has been urging leaders in nearby villages to facilitate the health team when the time comes as the efforts go towards achieving good health for all persons.
