Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony yesterday commissioned a $23m health post at Siriki, Upper Pomeroon which is expected to scale up services to over 500 residents living there and in neighbouring communities.
Services will include antenatal and chronic diseases clinics, family planning, and vaccinations and the health post will support comprehensive medical outreaches in the Upper Pomeroon River.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Minister of Health said that the facility is a boost to primary health care in that part of the region. He said that over the years, his ministry has been trying to map what services were needed at all primary health care facilities. Before, he said, it used to be predominantly Maternal Child Health (MCH) services, now, the ministry has decided to offer a wider range of health services at all geographical locations. He also committed to the Ministry of Health working to enhance the quality of services offered and to ensure that at least 216 medical interventions can be offered at the health centres.
He said that the staff will be trained to deliver their services in a professional manner. With the new health post coming into being, Anthony said more medical outreaches will be provided to complement the services that will be offered there. Anthony said one of the biggest health challenges in the communities is chronic or non-communicable diseases which need to be managed at an early stage. He said that the services that will be provided will target these diseases early.
Addressing the physical structure of the health post, Anthony said that the facility was constructed in a way to avoid flooding and is equipped with solar panels to power a refrigerator for vaccine storage. Mean-while, Regional Health Officer Dr Ranjeev Singh echoed Anthony and said that the commissioning of the facility will boost health care delivery in the region. Singh said that previously persons had to venture to Charity to access basic health services, but now, those services, as well as outreaches, will be offered at the facility.
Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oudit said that Siriki is flood-prone and the facility was built so that it would not be affected by flooding. He urged those part-time workers to continue to upgrade their skills and staff to care the facility. In attendance at the commissioning were the Prime Minister’s Representative, Arnold Adams, and Regional Exe-cutive Officer Susannah Saywack. The health post was constructed by Triple F Variety Store.
