-IDB Nicola
RESIDENT Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Mr. Marco Nicola, reiterating the institution’s longstanding working relationship with Guyana in the health sector, has noted that the new state-of-the-art $1.8 billion Linden Hospital Complex is a great asset to the country’s health services delivery system.

He was speaking Wednesday, at the official opening of the facility, situated close to the existing Mackenzie Hospital, at Watooka, in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice).

The construction, with funding from the five-year US$25.5M Health Sector Programme (HSP), was co-financed by the Government of Guyana and the IDB, as the Administration continues to make important advances in the rebuilding of related physical infrastructure.

Addressing the gathering, including President Bharrat Jagdeo; Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Nicola said that as the IDB celebrates its 50th anniversary of its foundation this year, it is honoured to share the historic moment with the people of Linden.

“I will like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the IDB collaboration with the Ministry of Health has been a vibrant partnership over the years, which we see continuing well into the future. The Bank is really honoured to be associated with the construction of this Linden facility…” he said.

Nicola said records would show that the IDB funded its first health care project here in 1978 and, since then, it continues to be a major partner for the sector in Guyana and, only recently, the Government and the Bank successfully negotiated a US$5M loan for the expansion of the Basic Nutrition Programme, through which it continues to support the Government in implementing the core component of the National Nutrition Strategy.

He said the building of the new facility is one of the key investment activities under the Health Sector Reform Project, which is set within the framework of the National Health Plan, an essential aspect of the 2001-2010 National Development Strategy.

Nicola reminded that the overall objective of the project is to improve effectiveness, quality and equity in the access to health services in Guyana, by, primarily, improving the organisational and institutional capacity of the sector through information technology, human resource development, strengthening of the pharmaceuticals and health services delivery systems and improving the overall system of the country.

OBJECTIVE
The diplomat said, to meet the last objective, activities include the upgrading of the entire Linden Hospital Complex and the ongoing reconstruction of the in-patient facility at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

He maintained that the Linden Complex represents a major accomplishment of the stated goal of not only improving the lives of the people in Region Ten but also those of people living in interior locations, who will now save time and money to benefit from health care services.

Nicola admitted that the execution of the construction was not an easy task, with limited experience in the local construction industry of building state-of-the-art medical facilities, which engaged the Government and the Bank to become creative and mitigate risks in order to achieve the expected product.

“Accepting and successfully managing those risks have also created a local capacity in building such modern health facilities and it will bring benefit not only to the construction methodology of the in-patient facility at the GPH but also any future health facility in Guyana,” he observed.

Nicola said the construction of the Linden Complex, completed in September 2009, now offers services which include radiology, optometry and gynaecology.

“People of Linden and surrounding environs can now access these services here in Linden which represents a bold and progressive step for the further development of the town of Linden and its people,” he remarked.

Nicola said, while the Bank is confident that the hospital will be a flagship facility, it urged the management and staff to bear in mind that, in addition to clinical excellence, it is important that the facility be kept always well maintained.

“As simple as it sounds, studies have shown that clean and well organised facilities go a long way in contributing to healthy outcomes,” he added.

Nicola stated that, for the hospital to be successful, the community of Linden should be encouraged to embrace, adapt and be proud of the facility, as an integral part of its own community life and activities.

Residents of Linden and surrounding communities in Region Ten have started accessing out-patient care at the new facility and sections have been in use since September, for the delivery of basic services.

The new hospital complex will allow for delivery of modern health care, inclusive of rehabilitation, laboratory, emergency, out-patient, pharmacy, radiology, optometry and low vision services, two operating theatres and intensive care.