RESIDENTS of Region 10, particularly those residing in riverine communities, will now have faster access to healthcare services in cases of emergency now that the region has been equipped with a high-power water ambulance.

Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, handed over the keys to the water ambulance to the Region 10 Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Pansy Armstrong on Tuesday at the Square of the Revolution in the presence of the Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), Maylene Stephen; and Chairman of the Regional Health Committee, Gordon Calendar. Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings was among other health officials present.

The 28-foot water ambulance carries a 200 horsepower engine and is valued at $16M. It has the capacity to accommodate two patients along with four family members, a medical team and captain. It is fully equipped with medical equipment including ventilators, oxygen cylinders and stretchers to manage patients comfortably.

The RHO explained that the ambulance will be stationed at the Kwakwani Hospital in the Upper Berbice River, and will respond to emergency cases in the riverine communities of the region. Notably, it complements a smaller boat carrying a 75 horsepower engine.
With the new addition, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will now be able to conduct more outreaches and simultaneously respond to emergency health-related cases. Sick patients residing in these riverine communities are usually transported to the Kwakwani Hospital or the Linden Hospital Complex depending on the severity of the illness.

Dr. Armstrong said “riverine areas have their own challenges, getting from Point ‘A’ to Point ‘B’, and the ambulance would be of great benefit to the residents.

“It is the policy of the Ministry of Health to have universal healthcare, and therefore if the residents can’t reach us, we will have to reach them,” the RHO said.

Dr. Armstrong added that the water ambulance would make easier the tasks of the health personnel operating within the region. “With a water ambulance and a health boat in the area, we will be able to respond to emergency cases, and at the same time conduct out reaches. So we will be able to do more outreaches now that we have two boats available to us,” she explained.

The health minister said the decision to equip Region 10 with a water ambulance is in keeping with the Health Ministry’s vision to provide timely access to healthcare services.
Minister Lawrence noted that in keeping with its vision and mission to provide universal healthcare, the Public Health Ministry in October, 2018 handed over a $22.4M water ambulance to the communities of Orealla and Siparuta on the Corentyne River. On January 2, 2019, it also handed over an $11M water ambulance to the Bartica Regional Hospital, which now services parts of Regions Two and 10 that are closest Bartica.

“I believe that we are on our way to ensuring that we work towards having universal access to healthcare, but just not having access to healthcare, but having access in a timely manner that would save lives,” Minister Lawrence told reporters shortly after handing over the key to the ambulance.

The region’s DREO, like the RHO, said the water ambulance will complement the smaller boat in the region. “Health is a very large programme and in the case of emergencies, sometimes we have clashes, so with this water ambulance being in the Berbice River, I know it will benefit the people a great lot,” Stephen said. According to her, the acquisition of the water ambulance, “forms part of the good life the David Granger Administration has promised.”

Calendar, Chairman of the Regional Health Committee, was in high praises of the Public Health Minister. According to him, since Minister Lawrence took office, Region 10 has seen significant improvements in its health sector.