THE decentralisation of psychiatric care will begin in Region Six and across the country early in 2018, Health Minister Volda Lawrence has said.

The minister made the announcement at the re-commissioning of a medical complex at the New Amsterdam Psychiatric Hospital, Fort Canje, East Berbice, Corentyne last Saturday.

“To the patients who are here, there will be a new programme which we will be rolling out in terms of how we deal with them, whether we keep them in house or offsite and added to that, we will be taking over all of the health facilities that are presently under the control of GuySuCo in this region and other regions, placing some of their services that you offer here at those facilities, so it’s closer to the neighbourhoods. It is within the community’s reach and people won’t have to pay much transportation cost to get here and most importantly we can treat patients from an outpatient,” she said.

The new and improved building houses a doctor’s office, nurse’s station, pharmacy and waiting area, all done in collaboration with PAHO/WHO.

Minister Lawrence also said that greater focus will be placed on the facility and mental health next year.

“We know that the methodology used to attend to psychiatric illnesses has changed over the years. We have had some interaction with other countries through the assistance of PAHO/WHO… It cannot be what it can be if we don’t have your input from the central/regional level. We want to ensure that we can be able to have this place fixed in such a way that you are comfortable to work here and it puts you in a new frame of mind to be able to render service to others.”

The minister said the commissioning of the complex comes on the heels of a promise made to improve services, working conditions and security at the institution.

In addition to the services offered at the facility, some new ventures such as poultry-rearing and greenhouse initiatives, among others, will be introduced soon.

The National Psychiatric Hospital Complex which only recently looked like a ghost town is undergoing a multimillion-dollar upgrade.

The dilapidated wooden structures will be demolished and replaced by a modern patient and staff-friendly facilities. Works on the compound have already started, while the demolition exercise will commence soon.

PARADIGM SHIFT
PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, said he has seen a paradigm shift in the approach that has been adopted by the ministry and pledged PAHO’s assistance to the minister and team in any way possible.

He continued that the transformation he has seen over the past few years was humungous, having seen the facility in its previous state to present.

He also cautioned on the use of the term “inmate” as was previously used to refer to patients at the facility, pointing out that the word “inpatient or outpatient” is more appropriate since the facility is a hospital.

Acting Medical Superintendent Vinashri Khirodar also reflected on the transformation.

“Conditions were very adverse, but with the dedication and constant motivation of staff who worked around the clock in spite of these conditions, today we are on a far better horizon for a Psychiatric Hospital where we were and where we are today its far better, not just for us but for the staff as well.”

Khirodar and a few other healthcare personnel recently returned from a visit to Belize where they were able to interact and learn new methodologies being used in mental health.

The visit was part of the upgrading of the level of care for mental health patients, moving from institutionalising patients to out-patients.

Regional Health Services Director Jevaughn Stephens thanked the Health Ministry and PAHO/WHO for their support and asked that they continue to support the region, since he believes with continued support, Region Six has the opportunity and potential to provide the best healthcare in the country. Stephens posited with the continued support of his staff and the Ministry’s Liaison` Alex Foster, they should by August 2018 be closer to making this a reality.

He cautioned however that while there has been tremendous improvement over the past two years, the need for sustainability in the quality of service is paramount to the success and achieving set goals.

Minister Lawrence was on an all-day outreach in Region Six where she met with medical administrators and other staff to listen and address concerns affecting the region.

During the outreach, the minister also participated in a tree-planting initiative and inspected the New Amsterdam and Skeldon hospitals.