I WOULD like to participate in the political process of Guyana, and would be casting my vote for the PPP/C at the next elections for the following reasons, which are confined to the health sector as this is my bias: There was expanded health care with equity and quality. Evidence is the addition of more than 500 new doctors to the health care system, and the establishment of more than ten new hospitals over the last five years.

In the last five years, health as a percentage of the national budget is almost 10% compared to  less than 1% inherited from the PNC.

There were massive increases in the amount of nurses being trained; for example, over the last five years more than 1000 nurses became trained professionals.

There was also significant upgrade in terms of boosting the capacity of the health sector in the hinterland region to provide primary health care. Also, one cannot ignore the high levels of investments in drugs and medical supplies to take care of our people.

In addition, more recently, there was the introduction of highly specialized care, for example, cardiac interventions and kidney transplants.

Mr. Editor, there was also the setting up of the very important specialist Ophthalmology hospital in Berbice where our people can go for proper care and treatment which never existed before.

I should also mention that Guyana can now boast of an internationally-acclaimed vaccination programme for having the best coverage in the Americas – that is between 96 to 98%. There is also coverage of more than 16 preventable  childhood diseases in the country.

These reasons are only confined to what occurred in the health sector over the last five years. I avoided getting into too much history, because at 25, this is the first time I will vote. Incidentally, I should mention that I received my training in Cuba.