Berbice Regional Health Authority hosts awards ceremony
THE Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA), adjudged the best such regional agency in 2010 and in line for similar honours for 2011, recently pledged to maintain the top position among health care providers. On the occasion of the ninth annual awards ceremony in the Fort Canje compound in Berbice, BHRA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo told the large gathering that the institution had, up to the third quarter of 2011, once again, topped the country in the scores it received in its services agreement with the Ministry of Health.
He added: “And I am sure that, when the last quarter is done, we will, again, top the country for the year 2011 as we did for the year 2010. We will, once again, be adjudged the best Regional Health Authority in Guyana for the delivery of health care as measured by the services agreement.”
Mahadeo said the successes are due to the hard work of the staff of the several hospitals and health centres within East Berbice/Corentyne.
His remarks were made during the three-hour-long programme which also heard presentations by former Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy; Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) representative, Dr. Beverley Barnett; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T), Mr. Yog Mahadeo; Chairman of the BRHA, Mr. David Armogan; and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Joseph Hamilton.
Mahadeo said that, of its 2011 achievements, the BRHA was particularly proud of its extended home based care for bedridden persons and those who had been recently discharged from medical or mental health care institutions in the region.
He said some 866 such patients had been visited by BRHA staffers during last year and, in many instances, benefitted from hampers donated by Food for the Poor in addition to the medical care which included dentistry and physiotherapy.
Mahadeo said the beneficiaries of the home visits had all expressed gratitude for the programme which is unprecedented.

93,000 visits
He said, over 93,000 visits had been recorded at the Out-Patients Department and the other out-patient clinics in 2011. A total of 14,278 x-rays and 75,456 laboratory tests done and 76,442 prescriptions filled.
Some 1,704 surgeries were performed; 1,494 babies delivered with 16 still-births and six neo-natal deaths and, sadly and unfortunately, one maternal death.
Mahadeo observed that the years 2006 to 2010 had not been marred by maternal deaths and BRHA was working to retain that record in 2012.
He said foot care for diabetics was another success story. Started on July 27, 2011, 173 patients paid 1,400 visits to the centre and they were treated not only with dressing but also by the physiotherapist.
BRHA tested 14 percent of the Berbice population during the week of HIV testing, surpassing its targets, Mahadeo reported, noting that it was tasked, too, with completing twelve blood drives and ended up doing 26, with 85 percent of the donors being volunteers.
Mahadeo praised two faith-based organisations, the church led by Pastor Ryan and members of the Numbers 64 to 66 Vedic Mandir, for giving significant support to the successful collections.
He said mental health care delivery had also benefitted from the training and recruitment of 21 persons as Psychiatric Patient Care Assistants at the end of the first ever such locally conducted programme last year.
Of 2011, Mahadeo said: “Last year had many peculiar challenges, limitations and hurdles all along the way but we kept our main goals and objectives in sight and I am proud to be at the helm of the most progressive administrative region where health is concerned, progressive in delivering care in a variety of ways no other region does.”
Ramsammy also praised the BRHA workers for the hard work they had done in 2010 and 2011, leading to the region being recognised as provider of the best health care services.
“When we look at the records and see approximately 200 infant deaths per year as against 2,600 such per year not so long ago; when we look at the records and we see that life expectancy was, not so long ago, between 59 and 60 and now find that it is 71, this because of you; you the health care workers who have made that possible,” he observed.
Ramsammy said the Ministry of Health had, over the years, transformed lives and will continue to do so in the years to come.
He congratulated Mahadeo on being at the helm of BRHA since its inception and working hard to make the organisation grow from strength to strength.

Regional level
Barnett, who was accompanied by Dr. Javier Uribe, also of PAHO, noted that inter-sectoral collaboration is critical for sustained and successful health intervention at the regional level.
As such, she said she was heartened to see evidence of the collaboration of BRHA with various partners, including the Private Sector and others such as faith-based entities.
Barnett stressed: “These are important partners not only for national development but also for health development.”
She pledged that PAHO will continue to assist BRHA in developing its capacity for delivery of health care.
Both Armogan and Hamilton urged the BRHA workers to keep up the good work and give Guyanese the kind of health care they deserve and desire.
GT&T’s Mahadeo said the utility is pleased to be associated with BRHA and would continue sponsorship of its events and activities to enable it to provide top quality health care.
He said GT&T will be making a special offer of its Blackberry services to all the medical workers of BRHA.
“We will be coming around during the next three months to every health facility and work with you to join our service,” Mahadeo pledged.
Dr. Nerissa Ramnarain, declared the 2011 Champion Worker of BRHA, will be rewarded with a trip for two to Kaieteur Falls, compliments of GT&T.
Others recognised for exemplary performances were Ms. Candy Archer, Mr. Victor Van Buckley, Ms. Shondell Skeete, Ms. Gillian Roopnarine, Mr. Michael DeSouza, Ms. Cheryl Henry, Mr. Earl Hinds, Mr. Earl Jacobs and Ms. Alicia Jack.
They will each get a trip for two to Mainstay Lake on Essequibo Coast.
At the function, BRHA also presented gifts and tokens of appreciation to members of the Board of Directors and Private Sector agencies for assistance rendered during 2011 which made the award ceremony possible.
GT&T, PAHO and Food for the Poor received plaques in recognition of their excellent partnership with BRHA in 2011 and previous years.