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TWO functionaries in the system, the Regional Health Services Coordinator for Indigenous People’s Communities, Dr. Michael Gouveia and Medex, Imelda Williams have refuted claims, in a Kaieteur News August 26 report, that the St. Cuthbert Mission Health Centre does not have the basic medication to combat any illness in the village.
The newspaper had also stated that the facility lacks the required instruments to test sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol and, often times, cannot prescribe medicines because of being unable to make diagnoses.
However, in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday Gouveia charged the reporter of the story with being “very irresponsible.”
He maintained that the clinic has a full supply of medications and all the instruments for testing blood pressure.
The medical practitioner said no health centre in Guyana tests cholesterol that is done at hospitals.
Gouveia disclosed that St. Cuthbert’s last received medical supplies on April 29 and, presently, those for this quarter of the year are already packed for transportation to centre soon.
He pointed out that St. Cuthbert’s is a level two facility and will only be equipped to deliver certain services.
“It is not a hospital, so it is obvious that certain equipment and services will not be offered, for example the cholesterol testing,” Gouveia affirmed.
More careful
He admonished journalists to be more careful when reporting on such issues because persons’ jobs are at stake and their reputation as well as their name could be tarnished.
“It is downright ignorance, from the reporter’s view, to say that the health officials turn away patients and persons when they visit the health centre,” Gouveia charged.
Meanwhile, Williams, speaking on telephone, said she remembered talking to a young lady about the community but the latter did not identify herself as a reporter.
In any case, she did not say anything that is mentioned in the article, the medex insisted.
Williams said she has a very big heart, loves her job and would not want to do anything to displease herself when it comes to her work and helping persons who are sick.
The newspaper had also stated that the facility lacks the required instruments to test sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol and, often times, cannot prescribe medicines because of being unable to make diagnoses.
However, in an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday Gouveia charged the reporter of the story with being “very irresponsible.”
He maintained that the clinic has a full supply of medications and all the instruments for testing blood pressure.
The medical practitioner said no health centre in Guyana tests cholesterol that is done at hospitals.
Gouveia disclosed that St. Cuthbert’s last received medical supplies on April 29 and, presently, those for this quarter of the year are already packed for transportation to centre soon.
He pointed out that St. Cuthbert’s is a level two facility and will only be equipped to deliver certain services.
“It is not a hospital, so it is obvious that certain equipment and services will not be offered, for example the cholesterol testing,” Gouveia affirmed.
More careful
He admonished journalists to be more careful when reporting on such issues because persons’ jobs are at stake and their reputation as well as their name could be tarnished.
“It is downright ignorance, from the reporter’s view, to say that the health officials turn away patients and persons when they visit the health centre,” Gouveia charged.
Meanwhile, Williams, speaking on telephone, said she remembered talking to a young lady about the community but the latter did not identify herself as a reporter.
In any case, she did not say anything that is mentioned in the article, the medex insisted.
Williams said she has a very big heart, loves her job and would not want to do anything to displease herself when it comes to her work and helping persons who are sick.
