A ONE day health fair was staged at East La Penitence Health Centre, in Georgetown yesterday, to coincide with its first anniversary.
Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said it was one of the activities to show the full utilisation of the facility.
“We are hoping to make this an annual event and there are plans underway to ensure that this becomes a centre of excellence,” he said, on the occasion
Ramsaran said, considering the accessibility to the location, persons can take full advantage of the many important services offered there.
People in attendance yesterday were able to get information and care from several booths set up by the Food Policy Division of the Health Ministry and Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre.
In addition Ramsaran indicated that there will be screening for cervical cancer using the visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) method and provision of eye care.
There was a specialist from Eye Care Guyana, who was working in partnership with the Health Ministry to examine patients.
Eye Care Guyana National Programme Manager, Mr. Charles Vandyke said the services offered yesterday are available at most health centres countrywide.
“By offering this service at this level, we will be taking the pressure off Georgetown Public Hospital and this is very affordable,” he remarked.
Vandyke said, after diagnosis, those who require will be provided with spectacles at the health centres, at a cost of $10,000 for adults and $6,000 for children, under the Low Cost Spectacles Programme.
“The services are superb and people need to know what is available,” he said.
Fifty-two-year-old community resident, Melinda George, who went to have her blood pressure tested, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be able to secure health care at the centre.
“I am happy that I don’t have to go all the way to the Georgetown Hospital now because you can have some things done here,” she said, of the centre.