THE infrastructural and administrative issues that plagued the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) in 2012 were addressed during the staging of several meetings organised by the Health Ministry late last year.

Consequently, the ministry will be keeping close tabs on the institution to ensure all goes well, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud told the media in a recent interview.
According to him, the ministry has appointed a new medical superintendent there to offer support to Regional Health Officer (RHO) Ravindranauth Persaud.
The CMO pointed out that the daily operation of the WDRH has been a very challenging task, due to the fact that the RHO, at one point, was working not only in that capacity but as the medical superintendent, as well as delivering care to maternal patients.
The CMO stated that there is now adequate staffing at the facility and those staff members are equipped with the requisite knowledge, experience and resources to carry out the daily functions of the hospital.
He indicated that he could safely say that the day-to-day functioning of the hospital has improved, in the Out-patients Unit; the Emergency Unit; the Maternity Unit; the Operating Theatre and the wards, themselves.
The CMO further stated that there is a reasonable number of nursing professionals, who have been appropriately assigned to cover all the wards.
He said the health workers can no longer complain about shortages of any major drugs and equipment, as there is an adequate supply.
Challenge
He acknowledged, though, that offering laboratory services remains a challenge due to the shortage of medical personnel in this area.
In order to guarantee a smooth operation, the health institution continues to work closely with the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) as part of a twinning programme initiated in 2012.
The CMO stated that infrastructure work such as the renovation of the operating room have been completed, leaving behind minor projects to be executed this year by the Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
According to him, some other parts in the clinics and in the wards were almost finished at the close of last year, but there are some minor things that the region may have to do.
He highlighted that persons could safely say there is some improvement at the hospital, because there are no longer wires hanging from the roof and there is now a functional air-condition unit.
In 2012, the WDRH was highly criticised, even by Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who had said it failed, miserably, during inspections.