THE Ministry of Local Government & Regional Development on Thursday commissioned a total of eight much needed developmental projects in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice).

Among the commissioned projects were the Diabetic Foot Centre in Fort Wellington; water filtration plant, built by Farfan & Mendes at a cost of $4.5M; Rehabilitation Centre able to diagnose and treat all Ear, Nose and Throat problems; Bush Lot Health Polyclinic; Mortice Primary School; Belladrum tarmac; A storage bond for drugs costing $4.5M at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital, and an extension to the latter.
With respect to the Diabetic Foot Centre, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud thanked the regional officials for initiating and completing the project. He recalled that this was a much needed facility, because in the past people had to travel to Georgetown to get the care they need. And because they often were unable to make the trip their feet had to be amputated. With the commissioning of this new facility, which is in their region, people can get the help they need faster. According to the Regional Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth, the project cost $7.4M and the money came from the regional health budget.

Three other projects at Fort Wellington were also commissioned including a water filtration plant, built by Farfan & Mendes at a cost of $4.5M and with a capacity to supply 900 gallons of filtered water per 8-hour period; a comfortable waiting area for patients, built at a cost of $2.6M out of savings from the 2012 budget, and a fully equipped Rehabilitation Centre to diagnose and treat all ear, nose and throat problems. This project which was designed to also facilitate field visits cost $5.M. According to the Regional Medical Officer, Dr. Gavin Persaud the only thing missing from it is an ear, nose, throat (ENT) specialist.

The project at Bush Lot Polyclinic was an extension of the existing clinic and which will now offer dental care and early cancer detection. The Centre which is equipped with a conference room will also be used as a brainstorm centre by regional health education officials. According to Persaud, this was an extremely challenging project, which was started in 2011. However, the first contractor did not perform satisfactorily and was fired in 2012. It was finally completed this year by a different contractor and eventually cost $5.5M.
At Belladrum a tarmac was built on the school ground for the benefit of the children who used to play on the red clay which caused health challenges such as asthma, as well as cleaning challenges especially during wet weather. The headmistress of the school, Mrs. Lewis thanked the Ministry and regional officials

for the gesture and expressed her hope that their other needs will also be accommodated, such as cleaning the school building and alleviating the drainage situation at the school, steps she said are necessary for the school to be certified as a Child Friendly Facility.
Persaud also commissioned a headteacher’s house built at the Mortice Primary School. He explained that before the house was built the school couldn’t attract qualified, skilled personnel and had to depend on unskilled teachers to run the school. The Minister remarked that all that has changed, as the headmistress now has her own place, right next to the school where she can receive parents who want to discuss the progress of their children as well as children who want to consult with her, outside school

hours. This building cost $4.5 million according to the Regional Education Officer, Owen Pollard.

Mortice Primary School located about 10 miles from the Mahaicony Public Road, and attended by about 55 children from the surrounding community, was our next stop. Here Next up was our final stop, the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital, where another three projects were commissioned. The first of these projects was a storage bond for drugs, costing $4.5 million. According to the Regional Chairman, this facility was needed because in the past drugs were kept in the central bond in Georgetown, which resulted in drugs often expiring, with their quantities and exact location often not known. However, by having their own storage bond, they can better control the shelf life of the drugs they order. Since the bond is equipped with an AC, they are also able to ensure drugs are stored at the optimum temperature.
A water filtration plant was the next facility to be commissioned. This facility, which cost $5.3M to build has a capacity to filter and supply 900 gallons of drinking water per 8-hour period to patients and staff. Since the present supply is greater than the demand the water can also be distributed to outlying communities such as Bibhoo, Hidam, Dundee and Mora Point.
The last project commissioned was an extension to the maternal ward of the Mahaicony Hospital. The room can accommodate an extra eight beds and cost $5.9 million. During the occasion, the minister thanked the contractors and regional officers for all the work they have done to make these projects possible. He also thanked the Government of Cuba for its support which resulted in over 100 doctors returning from that country after their studies. He also mentioned that the Government is in the process of working together with other friendly countries to have some of our doctors sent there to specialise in different medical fields.
The Acting Regional Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Govin Singh who spoke at the occasion, complimented the engineering department for making sure that projects were completed in a timely manner despite all the challenges and setbacks. He also thanked the contractors as well as the staff of the different institutions for bearing with them during the construction.

(By Jimmy Roos)