President Irfaan Ali yesterday ordered a complete evaluation of all the health centres in Pomeroon after discovering that the Hackney Health Centre had a drug shortage.
A release from the Office of the President said that during the Head of State’s visit to the area to conduct a flood assessment, one of the residents told the President that he had to go to a nearby shop to purchase needle and thread to stitch a wound since the health centre had no supplies.
Other residents also related that the health centre is often without medical supplies.
As a result, the Head of State requested the presence of the health worker stationed at the health centre to explain the situation. The health worker said that while there is a shortage, no requisition for medical supplies was sent to the region “lately”.
The release said that the President also questioned the Regional Health Officer, Dr Ranjeev Singh, who related that the region currently has medical supplies.
“I want the community to hear what you are facing. No requisition came from the centre. If you don’t send a requisition for what is short, how can the region send anything? I want a complete evaluation. Let’s get our people in here because this is absolutely irresponsible—a total disconnect between the centre and the region. I want a complete evaluation of the health centres in the Pomeroon,” Ali told the Region Executive Officer, Devanand Ramdatt, a former Chairman of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
