MINISTER within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, has said the increasing disruption of medical services at health centres is a primary cause of concern as it results in the discomfort of a wide cross-section of poor and vulnerable patients. In a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he expressed his disapproval of the incidence and explained why such discussions are banned.
Ramsaran said it was brought to his attention that protracted meetings are being convened to discuss local issues during the early work day.
He said this practice was against his instructions that such meetings be discontinued or should last no more than two hours, because they were deemed, by some health care providers, as unproductive.
Ramsaran said this edict is being enforced in the operations of all 10 health centres in Georgetown, where the activities at those facilities are being discussed in the afternoon, on a monthly basis.
“I am appalled that this instruction is not being carried out in the densely populated areas, like Regions One (Barima/Waini) and Four, particularly on East Coast and East Bank Demerara,” he declared.
In light of that revelation, he said he has re-issued the directive that no general staff meeting should be held, especially in the densely populated areas, without the direct knowledge of the Health Ministry.
“This practice is unfair to the public, a waste of resources and has minimal productivity,” Ramsaran pronounced.
Alluding to the recent occurrence when services were disrupted at Laluni Health Centre, along Soesdyke/Linden Highway, he said there are also the central support organisations and other institutions which extend invitations for health care providers to participate in various activities, further disrupting clinical services.
Ramsaran indicated that such activities need to be streamlined as, in many instances, the content of some workshops overlap.
“The Ministry of Health is a learning organisation and I fully support training but the laissez faire approach is a major cause for concern since it causes discomfort to the patients,” he maintained.
Laluni Health Centre experienced a disruption in the usual medical visits as the resident community health worker (CHW), Ms. Claudia Rodrigues was undergoing yet another upgrade programme.
In that instance, Ramsaran, on behalf of the Health Ministry and the Government, tendered his profound apologies to the affected residents.

Two Ministries partnering to enhance agriculture literacy
AGRICULTURE Minister Mr. Robert Persaud has announced that, because agriculture literacy is lacking in Guyana, particularly in schools, his ministry is partnering with the Education Ministry to change the paradigm.
He made the announcement on Monday at a career fair hosted by the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), as part of Agriculture Month activities being held under the theme ‘Fighting Global Hunger through Agriculture Diversification in Guyana’.
Persaud said staffers of his ministry have been deployed to work with the Ministry of Education in the drive to support agriculture education programmes currently being advanced.
He explained that his ministry works with schools to provide plant materials and tools for their agriculture classes, as well as technical staff to assist in other areas.
Persaud said his ministry recognises the need for provision of such assistance, with the long term vision of improving agriculture literacy locally.
He said it is necessary to change the “old perceptions” that have plagued the sector and deterred more young people from getting involved with agriculture.
Persaud stated that agriculture has changed over the years and continues to attract resources for modernisation.
He noted that, at a higher level, the University of Guyana (UG) is creating linkages with GSA to produce synergies, considering the limitation of resources and the need to link progress in those institutions, which would assist in ensuring that there is no re-inventing of the wheel.
Persaud added that UG does not have demonstration facilities which, for example, the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has and that is another reason for pursuing synergies and, by extension, improving agricultural literacy in a more holistic way.
He insisted that agriculture is not just about text books but a more functional something that requires the requisite exposure in practical fields.
Persaud reiterated that the bottom line is embracing agricultural literacy to prevent the brain drain that is taking place in the sector.
“Consistent inflow of human resources in the sector is what we need…youths can contribute, significantly, to the sector…agriculture is changing,” he posited, while maintaining the need for increasing agriculture literacy.