THE State’s Health Sector is undoubtedly a most critical sector of its socio-economic development, since it is charged with the particular responsibility of ensuring the delivery of timely, but also quality medical attention and care to all those who may come to its precincts for such relief.

Since all of its services are free, it attracts quite large numbers, particularly of the working- class category that cannot afford to access the mostly out-of- reach, expensive medical services on offer at similar non-state institutions. But even the well-to-do sometimes visit for attention, since there are vastly improved interventions now on offer.
Full marks and salutations to a government that has been investing billions of dollars in the massive overhaul of a system that has been resurrected from a primitive and almost non-existing state, compliments of the criminal neglect of the long, fruitless years of PNC government rule. This year’s allocation is $19.2B.
This sector, that receives the second largest allocation of resources from the national budget, has today truly risen from the ashes, delivering a vastly improved quality of services and care, to tens of thousands of Guyanese, who can testify to being generally satisfied, despite the challenges that may still exist.
The National Ophthalmological Hospital at Port Mourant is testimony to this sector’s great modernisation process, which is still a work in progress. All services at this institution are FREE.
Thus the recent report in the media, of a female giving birth in the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, must have been a huge disappointment to the government that has made the health of the nation an important priority.
The circumstances that led to such a dangerous situation could have resulted in tragedy, for it is inconceivable that a pregnant woman in delivery mode, could be made to wait in a car, while a relative was asked to go “and speak with a nurse” to inform her of the distressed female’s arrival.
Even though the woman had eventually been allowed into the compound, there was still the absence of this vital medical personnel, with the result being that the delivery was reportedly done by her relatives, one of whom it was reported, “catch the baby”.
Surely, one must agree that such protocol, reportedly instituted because of precautions due to a prior instance of an acid attack on a staff, was wrongfully applied in a situation that called for immediacy, as must be in all maternal cases of such a nature. It is even more surprising, the guard’s actions, given the many maternal deaths that have occurred. One is certain that those responsible for the central medical system, particularly its security, would have since ensured that there is not a repeat of this situation, delaying the entry of a citizen who needs urgent medical attention.
It must be reiterated, that this is not about bashing the state’s health system; instead, it is about highlighting the fact that Government has been investing billions of dollars in, among other measures, implementing strategies and initiatives, for the proper management of a system that is central to the national well- being.
Of course, the administration expects greater vigilance and appreciation from the institution’s managers in the application of the many mechanisms now in place at that pivotal location, the Georgetown Public Hospital, in preventing potentially dangerous situations, such as the one highlighted.
It cannot be fair to the government when such serious incidents occur.
However, note has been taken of comments by GPHC’s Quality Improvement Manager, Yolanda Renville, published recently in one of the dailies, that the GPHC, with support from HealthQual through the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), is gearing to considerably improve its operations in terms of the “delivery of health care”.
Renville reportedly expressed optimism that this collaboration will help steer the hospital’s quality programme in the right direction.