The Ministry of Health has announced, for the benefit of staff members affected by fire which gutted its Brickdam facilities on Friday, and members of the public as well – a list of sites from which its offices and services could be accessed with effect from today.

The details of the new arrangements were announced by Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy at a media briefing held at the board room of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) yesterday.

Following are the changes:
Vaccination services for children to be immunised against diseases and for adults requiring immunisation prior to travel out of the country could be accessed from a site at Lot 49 Croal Street – where the National Commission for Disability is located, and opposite the South Road Health Centre.

The Central Board of Health, which provides services such as issuing permits for cremation, reviewing applications for building of new homes or constructing extensions will be located at the Board room on the ground floor of the NAPS, Hadfield Street. This situation will obtain for one week. Then the service will be relocated to the Ministry of Health compound. Using the Hadfield Street entrance, turn left and enter the offices on the ground floor of the building.

This venue will also accommodate the Medical Council Secretariat which processes applications for financial assistance for persons travelling abroad for medical attention, or to pay for medical services in the private sector. After one week, this service will be removed to the Board Room of NAPS, also on Hadfield Street.

Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran’s Office will be located in the Ministry’s compound – on the right of the Hadfield Street gate, in the Regional Health Services area.

The Accounts Department and Administration of the Ministry of Health will be on the ground floor of that building.

The Chief Medical Officer and Disease Control Offices will both be located in the building left of the Hadfield Street gate, but on the top flat. Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy’s Office will also be located on the top flat of the building left of the Hadfield Street gate.

The Adolescent Health Department has relocated to the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS).

The Human Resource Department (Personnel) has been relocated to the Guyana Health and Environmental Food Policy (GHEFP) building in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

All services usually accessed from the Ministry of Health continue to be available, with no glitches, Dr Ramsammy assured. The Health Minister said he recognises that the work of the Ministry of Health should not be deferred for even one day, and so, together, the staff, is working to ensure that their services continue to be available to the people of Guyana.

A list of telephone numbers will be published at a later date.