GOVERNMENT has intensified its thrust to afford Guyanese access to quality health care services and this has resulted in the decentralisation of health care at the community level. This has been reflected in the construction of a number of state-of-the-art hospitals and health centres countrywide and significant budgetary allocations to the regional health care system. In this regard, residents of Tuschen in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) particularly, are benefiting from a newly constructed $8.7M health centre which will be commissioned shortly. The availability of a health care facility within the community is a reflection of a commitment by government which has endeavoured to ensure the provision of services throughout Guyana.

According to Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, now that there is a health centre in Tuschen, residents would no longer have to go to the health centre at Meten-Meer-Zorg.
The minister recently visited several health centres in Region Three including Tuschen, Meten-Meer-Zorg, De Kinderen and Zeelugt.
The Tuschen Health Centre provides health care to the widely expanding community and is outfitted with a modern dental chair. Since this health centre is fairly new, Dr. Ramsaran requested an audit of both the equipment and medication.

Apart from investments made into the primary health care system, significant contributions have been made towards the upgrade of the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

These are reflected in the $37.1M renovation of the in-patient ward which has been completed, the commencement of rehabilitation work on another in-patient ward at a cost of $17M and on-going transformation of the paediatric department, which was in a derelict condition, into a specialised TB centre that will deliver care to patients with special needs.
Dr. Ramsaran reminded citizens of the agreement signed in 2006 between Guyana and Cuba to improve health care services in the country which has resulted in the construction of several diagnostic and treatment centres at Diamond, Suddie, Leonora and Mahaicony.
These initiatives by government to sustain and establish more health centres across the country have made health care services more accessible to Guyanese closer to their homes. As a result, there has been a reduction in non-communicable diseases, the strengthening of the immunisation programme and a reduction in the number of persons approaching the major facilities. (GINA)