Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony has said that the ongoing rehabilitation of the Diamond Regional Hospital is expected to be completed within two months
Dr. Anthony made this disclosure during an inspection of the facility yesterday, according to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report.
The report noted that upon the completion of the rehabilitation works, the facility will have a new Accident and Emergency Department, a new Outpatient Area, enhancements in the surgical maternity areas, and a much larger pharmacy.
It added that the hospital is one of five health institutions listed under the government’s SMART Hospitals’ project. This initiative has been actively promoted in the European Union (EU).
“We have received funding from DFID [Department for International Development]. So, DFID, in combination with the Government of Guyana has set aside the monies to be able to rehabilitate this particular facility,” Dr. Anthony said.
Explaining the notion of SMART Hospitals, he said “the whole concept behind this project is to ensure the buildings have structural integrity to guarantee better work and patient flow. We are utilising renewable energy, so you’ll see the installation of solar panels and most of the lighting and power structures will be running off of solar energy.”
Other ‘SMART’ energy sources will be available as backup measures in efforts to lessen carbon footprints for the hospitals.
The Leonora, Lethem, Mabaruma and Paramakatoi hospitals are the other facilities to be rehabilitated through the SMART Hospitals’ project.
According to the DPI report, Dr Anthony added that the completion of these hospitals will serve as a model to explore other health facilities that can benefit from the initiative. An assessment of approximately 110 other institutions was completed under the project.
