FIRST Lady, Mrs. Deolatchmee Ramotar, yesterday turned the sod and unveiled a plaque to launch the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s $235,963,806 Maternity Ward Remodelling and Extension Project.The event yesterday at the GPHC was graced by the presence of Mrs. Ramotar; Health Minister Dr. Ramsaran; The People’s Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/C)’s prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming Regional and General Elections, Mrs. Elisabeth Harper; Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Jennifer Webster; GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Khan along with other highly distinguished persons and officials of the GPHC.

During his address, Dr. Ramsaran highlighted that every year the highest number of babies in Guyana is delivered in the maternity ward at the GPHC, recording 5,790 delivered babies in 2013 and a record-breaking 6,085 deliveries in 2014.

“We are doing a great job in stabilising the under-five mortality rate, and what we’re about to embark on will better develop the maternal health care we provide,” he said, adding that “No woman should die giving life.”
The minister noted that the Government-funded project before its launching, was the object of extensive reviews pertaining to the strengths and weaknesses of the Maternity Ward, so that it would be known exactly what to introduce after the expansion.
Minister Ramsaran also emphasised the importance of safe motherhood, noting that while the tertiary health-care aspect is well recognised, “We still need to highlight the work of the primary health-care workers who are undermined, while they are the ones who create the foundation for proper health care; these include mid-wives who are responsible for the delivery of babies and also the well-being of the mothers who deliver these newborns.”
Additionally, he noted that these primary health-care workers are equally responsible for the decrease in maternal mortality.
“Thanks to the visible improvements in the health sector, the Government has taken more interest into developing this area, as $17.5B was the allocated sum for the health sector in 2013 compared to that of $40B in 2014, which shows that the improvements have attracted the interest of the Government of Guyana,” said Minister Ramsaran.
In closing, the Health Minister disclosed that Guyana has one of the best maternal units in the Caribbean and it will continue to develop as time goes on.
Meanwhile, also speaking yesterday at the GPHC, CEO Mr. Michael Khan underscored that the importance of the Maternity Ward is fully recognised by the hospital’s management and the Ministry of Health (MoH), who are conscious of the need to modernise and expand the building to ensure that quality health care is delivered to mothers and their babies.
According to the GPHC’s CEO, over the years the maternity ward has had several improvements done both internally and externally: in 2012, the hospital reopened the Maternity Unit Theatre, thereby eliminating the need to move patients across the street and saving time, while the neonatal unit was also refurbished.
Additionally, “Adequate space, however, has always been a challenge, because the building currently houses the Pre and Post Natal Wards, Labour Room, Birthing Room, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Post-Operative Unit and Gynaecology and Antenatal Clinic,” he said.
GOVERNMENT’S EFFORT

Khan further stated that in an effort to create more bed space, the Government of Guyana recently approved G$235,963,806 for the remodelling and extension of the maternity ward. As a result, this was the largest rehabilitation project the maternity building would have ever had.
AIM OF EXPANSION
The main aim of the expansion is to create more bed space for the Pre and Post- Natal Wards, which is desperately needed to put an end to the problem of more than one person sometimes having to share the same bed.
That apart, Khan noted that an additional 60 beds have been projected, as the remodelled ground floor will house training rooms, offices, a neo-natal clinic and Doctors’ on call Rooms; the top floor will have two operating rooms, the birthing room and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
In closing, the CEO stated that the project started on February 16, 2015 and is expected to be completed by February 15, 2016. Contractor for the project is PD Contracting, while the consultant responsible for the design and supervision is KALITECH Inc.