THE community of Fifty-Eight Miles, Mabura, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice), now has access to better quality healthcare following the commissioning of an approximately $6M health centre last week Thursday.
Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon, Regional Health Officer (RHO) Pansy Armstrong, Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) Maylene Stephens and a number of residents were present to

witness the handing over of the facility, along with an ambulance which would be available sometimes.
Armstrong said the good gestures will go a far way towards improving health services, more particularly handling cases of malaria and other diseases.
She stated that the building was erected with consideration for the residents and she apologised for the absence of Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who really wanted to be present, but was unavoidably absent.
The RHO said what the community wanted was an organised system of health care delivery, as the medical officers were doing outreaches, but the population required  a more regularised service so that a trained health worker will be stationed at the facility 24/7 (daily).
Armstrong said the health worker is also trained in malaria microscopy since the area is a gateway to neighbouring riverine communities, such as Mahdia, Mabura and Lethem, which are prone to such diseases.
She reported that the medical team, including a medex and a midwife, who are serving there, will continue to do so, working with the newly established centre.
DREO Stephens congratulated Armstrong and the medical personnel for their effort in making the centre a reality, pointing out that, previously, persons living in the community had to travel to Linden to secure medical treatment and faced a challenge to access transportation.
Shortcomings
With the established centre and the ambulance at their disposal, these shortcomings are now addressed, she acknowledged.
Solomon told the gathering that the centre handing over was an encouraging moment because 58 Miles and surrounding areas will benefit tremendously from this addition.
He declared that the centre is not a gift but an entitlement and said the residents must make full use of it.
Solomon said the residents are entitled to good health care as they are no less important than the people in Linden, adding that he is humbled also to know that the beneficiary  community is very resilient in pursuing development, in terms of the attitude demonstrated with the self-help construction of the (primary) school and will continue to support initiatives like those.
Some residents said they are grateful to the Health Ministry for the initiative, pointing out that to improve health care in the community is a step in the right direction.