FIRE, suspected to be electrical in origin, destroyed the pharmacy within the recently constructed Lethem Regional Hospital in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) early Tuesday morning leaving, in its wake, millions of dollars in damage. It forced the closure of the institution and five patients had to be hurriedly evacuated and placed in an ambulance but there were no reports of injuries.
The patients were put in the former hospital building which had not been dismantled and is located about one hundred metres away from the blaze.
Investigations are under way into what triggered the flames as well as follow-up action by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Central Government.
Reports said that the fire started in the pharmacy around 04:45 hrs but was contained by the quick actions of a bucket brigade of residents backed up by others who successfully used water pumps and hoses.
However, all the hospital’s drugs, medical supplies and equipment in the pharmacy, valued at millions of dollars, were destroyed.
There was also significant water damage to the rest of the hospital building, leading to it being deemed unfit for accommodation and closed.
Regional Executive Officer (REO), Mr. Ronald Harsawack said the conflagration was preceded by an explosion. He was alerted by hospital staff and saw clouds of black smoke billowing from the section which houses the pharmacy.
He and others fought the raging blaze, using extinguishers and were supported by a bucket brigade of residents.
Another group of residents smashed the walls of the building with sledge hammers to gain ingress to the pharmacy and a better vantage point from which to combat the blaze that took about 45 minutes to control.
Harsawack said replacement drugs supplies were to be flown to Lethem yesterday followed by more taken overland later this week.
With that arrangement, he said the RDC is “fairly comfortable with the amount available for use at this time.”
Harsawack said that the hospital is likely to remain closed pending assessments of the damage and completion of the necessary repairs.
Meanwhile, a team from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was rushed to Lethem by mid-morning yesterday and was working along with the police to determine the origin of the explosion and subsequent fire.
The Lethem Regional Hospital, which boasts theatres, in-patient and out-patient facilities, a laboratory and the now destroyed pharmacy, was commissioned on September 14, 2009.
It was constructed as a joint venture between the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Government of Guyana.