IN response to a Stabroek News article on September, 17th, 2010, titled ‘Waiting in Vain for Health Care at Laluni’, Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, has sought to clarify any misunderstandings in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle.
The Laluni Health Centre is one of the remote centres in the coastal Amerindian community located along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
Dr.Ramsaran expressed concern over the apparent attempt to mislead in certain sections of the media, and emphasized that the Ministry of Health is concerned whenever citizens, not only the Laluni Health Centre, experience difficulties in accessing services at the centres countrywide.
Acknowledging the fact that residents were disappointed on that particular occasion, he pointed out that there is always a Community Health Worker (CHW) at Laluni to ensure the functioning of the facility. Up until recently, the Minister noted, the CHW at Laluni, Ms.Claudia Rodrigues, was placed on yet another upgrade programme, unfortunately without adequate planning for a replacement.
Expressing outrage regarding the removal of Ms.Rodrigues, Dr.Ramsaran said, “A CHW is being upgraded and I am happy about that, but those responsible should have seen to it that a replacement was provided,” adding, “Once again my policy instructions and advice have not been followed.”
According to the Minister, the training division, in its evaluation of the entrants, did not recognize that a replacement was not allocated for Laluni, thereby creating a gap.
“I am dismayed that such forward thinking was not exercised to identify a replacement; measures need to be taken when such ill advised actions are made,” he stressed.
He pointed out that a similar situation exists in St.Cuthbert’s Mission, where there is presently a Medex, Ms.Emelda Williams, stationed at the Health Centre, while the CHW is on a training programme.
He also noted that a scheduled clinic was postponed only on one occasion at Laluni,  which resulted in several residents turning up for services and, according to the Regional Health Officer (Ag), Dr. Waddle, a message had been sent alerting the community that consultations would be postponed that day, due to a HIV/AIDS  training session.
In this regard, Dr.Ramsaran extended his profuse apologies to the affected residents, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and the Government.
He reassured the community members that efforts are being made to resolve the situation, as from the 28 CHWs which are currently being trained, one will be dispatched to the area. Additionally, a CHW trainee from Laluni will be identified and placed on the next training programme.
Alluding to the allegation that there is no medication available to the residents, Dr.Ramsaran pointed out that whenever the medical teams are dispatched to the centres, they are amply equipped with the necessary medicine to distribute to those in need.