THE Health Ministry yesterday said arrangements are in place to have a pathologist complete all post mortems today so that families of the 12 persons who died in Friday’s horrific smash-up can make early funeral arrangements.
Five survivors were yesterday reported stable and recovering well from their injuries.
Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, yesterday visited families in mourning.
He visited the patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation who was transferred from the New Amsterdam Hospital and visited those who are still in the New Amsterdam Hospital.
He said the Health Ministry has arranged with the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) to have a team of doctors, a psychiatrist and social workers who will provide grief counselling and CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) for family members.
This team is expected to begin to work today and will continue to provide support over the next several weeks.
Ramsammy lauded the quick response by Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, Chief Executive Officer of the BRHA, who he said has assured that it would provide any additional support required.
Ramsammy said road accidents have reached crisis levels and appealed for Guyana as a nation to address the issue with greater commitment.
He said while the police have embarked on stricter compliance with the rules of the road, even greater enforcement of the rules is necessary.
“Speeding on the road, particularly by minibuses and trucks, has become a major national risk for road accidents. The time is coming where the speed of these vehicles should be controlled by mechanical devices that limit maximum speed. This is already done in some countries. All taxis, minibuses and commercial trucks may have to be mandated to be equipped with these devices,” he said.
He stressed that the public must play its part in the enforcement of these rules.
Ramsammy stated that members of the public must refuse to travel in buses and other vehicles that speed on the road.
Road accidents now are the number seven major causes of deaths in Guyana and are a major cause of physical disability.