THE National Psychiatric Hospital (NPH) at Fort Canje, Berbice, is a fully functional facility but there is a shortage of psychiatrists which delays efficient patient care, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA), Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo acknowledged recently.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he said the lone psychiatrist; Dr. Mayda Grajales is assisted by a medex and specially trained psychiatric nurses.
“With the one doctor available, the other staff are stepping up to the task in dealing with mentally challenged people but the ideal thing is to have more doctors on stream,” he admitted.
Mahadeo also pointed out that Grajales is conducting internal training in psychiatry with the NPH staffers and plans are in place for systematic upgrading.
Clinics are conducted on a monthly basis, as well, at Skeldon in Corentyne, Berbice.
The CEO said the NPH now has enough drugs to supply all patients until the next shipment is received in July. He said, previously, there were some shortages but that has been rectified and the BRHA is capable of reaching out to the needs of the sick.

NEVER EASY
Mahadeo said, dealing with mentally challenged people of violent tendencies is never easy and an in-depth investigation was done by the psychiatrist, who found that many of those on the streets are actually drug addicts and their sporadic, erratic behaviour is fuelled by narcotics.
“The psychiatrist told me that many of the persons that the police pick up on the streets are drug abusers and the NPH is not a rehabilitation centre for such persons,” Mahadeo pointed out.
He said he will recommend that the Ministry of Health establish a centre to rehabilitate, staffed with trained professionals to offer special counselling and services to drugs and substance abusers.
Mahadeo said the Health Ministry has a $10M subvention to expend on developmental works at the NPH complex and he would suggest that the money be spent on infrastructural works.
“I would prefer that the money be spent on resurfacing the road and walkways in the complex. Since we have already addressed the issue of flooding in the compound, it would be ideal to continue enhancing our physical environment,” he posited.
Since flooding is no longer an issue at the NPH complex, work has begun to resuscitate the cricket ground, which has hosted many famous events, including matches and produced some of the finest cricketers of the past.
Slashing of the vegetation was done and preparation of the pitch commenced before the May/June rains and, as soon as the weather holds, the enhancement will continue.
Mahadeo said, already three teams have expressed the desire to use the pitch although none of them volunteered to assist in its maintenance. But BRHA will negotiate with them and they would not have to pay to use or host any event there.