In an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) has since implemented a revised visitation policy to restrict the number of persons allowed to visit patients at the facility.
“We have revised our visitation policy and that policy will see (a) limited number of persons being allowed to visit patients in all areas of the hospital,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Brigadier (Ret’d) George Lewis said yesterday.
Lewis was at the time addressing a press conference which was held by the Ministry of Public Health to provide the public with an update on the COVID-19 response.
He said the GPH has also instituted a number of measures to protect its staff and patients.
This includes the establishment of several screening areas outside of the hospital premises.
“You would have noted that we have established a number of screening areas outside of the hospital and those areas are meant to check patients, ask a number of questions on their conditions prior to them being assessed and in some cases sent to a triage area for further assessment,” Lewis stated.
He further noted that one of the institution’s “biggest” concerns presently is the manner in which its healthcare workers are being treated.
Lewis said that the workers are being subject to public discrimination.
“Our biggest concern is the way our healthcare workers are being treated. You realise that without the healthcare workers, we cannot beat COVID-19 and a number of our nurses and doctors are being discriminated when they attempt to use public transportation and they are moving around in supermarket and other areas,” Lewis explained.
“I will ask the general public to please understand that they have a duty to perform, understand that they are doing their best and understand that without those healthcare professionals, Guyana will not beat COVID-19,” he added.
Additionally, the CEO has raised concerns about “fake” information and news being circulated and shared by electronic media.
This, he said, results in public fear and he urged persons to desist from such behaviour. “…These things, when they occur, they drive fear in the general public,” Lewis lamented.
