-Anthony says vaccinations to expand at schools
North East and East La Penitence now has an $18m health centre.
It features a state-of-the-art vaccination machine and a phlebotomy room. The health centre was commissioned yesterday at a ceremony attended by Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, along with other healthcare professionals, and residents.
The centre, at Lot 1 Arapaima Street, East La Penitence, will offer a wide range of services, including maternal and child health, immunization programmes, chronic disease management and general consultations. With state-of-the-art facilities and a spacious environment, the centre is designed to meet the healthcare needs of the community. It promises to ease the burden on surrounding medical facilities while providing accessible and quality care. The facility boasts a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) room, a vaccination room, and a phlebotomy room, ensuring that comprehensive services are available to all patients.
Residents of East La Penitence voiced their gratitude for the establishment of the health centre. They highlighted how its proximity would save time and reduce transportation costs, especially for elderly patients and families with young children. One attendee, Joan Griffith, said, “We’ve been waiting for this for so long. It feels good to know we now have a facility right here to meet our needs.”
Meanwhile, during his feature address, Anthony underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring citizens of Georgetown and the wider country have access to essential healthcare services. He noted that collaboration with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) has allowed the ministry to identify the most critical health needs and address them effectively.
A significant focus of the Minister’s remarks was on vaccination programmes. Dr. Anthony emphasised that every child should benefit from timely vaccinations, as these are key to preventing illnesses. He highlighted the push for administering the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to children aged 9–15, noting its potential to prevent certain cancers in males. He also announced that the health centre will offer HPV vaccines to sexually active women between the ages of 16 – 45 years, as part of its services.
“Our goal is to ensure that 90% of the population can access these vaccines,” the Minister stated, adding, “While this represents an increase, there is still some way to go.” He revealed plans to expand vaccination programmes to include secondary school students, building on the 20,000 nursery and 18,000 primary school children already reached.
Anthony also addressed the importance of focusing on better control of chronic diseases while continuing efforts to combat infectious diseases. He expressed hope that the North East La Penitence Health Centre would serve as a model for delivering comprehensive and community-focused healthcare.
The Minister noted that the combination of post offices and health facilities will enhance accessibility.
The health centre is now officially open and ready to serve.
(An earlier version of this story had reported the cost for the health centre at $80m. The ministry has since corrected its figure.)