Region Seven’s Regional Health Emergency Committee (RHEC) is now looking into having a COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Bartica Regional Hospital along with the preparation of a COVID-19 centre.
A statement from the RHEC disclosed that among a number of measures that are being undertaken by regional authorities, the administration is embarking on the preparation of quarantine and isolation facilities along with an ICU at the Bartica Regional Hospital to meet the needs in the region as well as care for COVID-19 cases within the town.
“The RHEC is currently overlooking the preparation of the Bartica COVID-19 Centre: a facility that is required by the National COVID-19 Task Force and will be the main operating centre, away from the Bartica Hospital,” the statement declared as it noted that the centre will handle all COVID-19 related cases.
The committee which is headed by the Regional Executive Officer, Kerwin Ward, and consists of the Regional Chairman, Mayor, Regional Education Officer, Regional Health Officer Dr Edward Sagala, and other officials, was among the first to be set up in the country as the pandemic reached Guyana.
The statement from the committee mentioned that since its establishment, it has carried out early sensitisation on COVID-19, inclusive of prevention methods, and even distribution of masks. The committee had also set up a screening checkpoint at the Bartica ferry stelling and later at other entry points to the region.
According to the committee, although the health department in the region is “stretched to capacity,” health workers have so far managed to monitor calls to the hotlines, suspected cases, and positive cases, most of which they noted were transferred from Aranka to Bartica. Further it mentioned that the department of education in the region has been instrumental as that department ensured sinks were installed, facilities were sanitised and the required preventative measures were followed at schools where students are currently sitting CSEC examinations.
Meanwhile the committee applauded the efforts of the Police, Radio Bartica, community leaders and volunteers within the region.
