Since the investment by the Government of Guyana of some $100 million for the expansion and upgrade of health facilities in Region Two, some 90 per cent of the work has been completed thus far.
Those facilities that have been completed are the Bethany and Mashabo health posts, which benefitted from rehabilitation works valued at $3 million and $4 million respectively, and the Charity Health Centre, which underwent major works valued at $6 million.
This disclosure was made by the Director General of the Ministry of Health Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, when he made an inspection visit on Thursday to some of the health facilities in the region.
According to a report from the Department of Public Information (DPI), Mahadeo had said that 90 per cent of the projects are completed. However, two riverine health facilities are currently being rehabilitated, and are expected to be finished soon.
“Most of the contractors who would have done the work would have already either received their payments or their payments are in process… we had asked that these projects be completed early because the earlier they finish the earlier the patients will benefit.”
He posited that a major challenge within the region is inadequate staffing at the health facilities, but with the launch of the part time jobs, he hopes for larger employment.
In addition, in March of this year the government had spent $2.8 million on the refurbishing of the ‘Lady Janet’ dental boat which currently benefits residents of the lower and upper Pomeroon River.
Also present during the inspection visit was Regional Health Officer (RHO), Ranjeev Singh, who said that measures will be put in place so that the facilities can be frequently maintained.
“What we recognised is that when we do a project at these facilities, we tend to not remember them for a period of time, and if you don’t then they become dilapidated. So, our plan is to ensure we have a maintenance plan for them every year so minor works can be done, and we don’t wait until we have the big major projects, and a lot of money has to be spent,” Singh told DPI.
Singh also noted that health services in the region have improved since and as such certain tests such as thyroid, troponins (heart enzymes) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing can now be done in the region for the first time. However, those tests can be expensive.
“These tests may cost about $10,000, and as such we have reduced that cost significantly, so, if persons in the Pomeroon want to do these tests, they do not even have to pay $2,000 passage to come to Suddie, what we will do is that we will take the sample and transport it to Suddie, analyse it and sent it back so it reduces financial burden to those people.”
