THE Region 10 community of Ituni has, for the first time in its existence, acquired an

ambulance, and Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally, who handed over the vehicle, has declared that history has been created in the village.

“Today is a defining day for this region, and particularly for residents of Ituni. Ituni, you have not been forgotten…. This is the first ambulance acquired through the Ministry’s public-private partnership initiative, (and it is) being donated to a community. This administration considers you important enough to be the recipients of this vehicle,” Minister Ally declared.

Assembled at the Ituni Recreational Ground to welcome the minister, residents were loud in their praise of the Ministry and the Government for providing them with the ambulance.

Several of them recollected that their community had often had to make do with a second-hand ambulance which was no match for the bumpy road; and often malfunctioned, forcing them to spend large sums to transport the sick or victims of accident to the Ituni Health Centre, or to the Linden Hospital Complex.

Minister Ally said that after hearing about these challenges, a decision was taken to obtain an ambulance for the community. This was achieved following donations from corporate sponsors Trans-Pacific Motor Spares and Auto Sales. The vehicle is fully equipped, including with 110 volts of power to respond to emergencies.

Minister Ally, however, cautioned residents against seeing receipt of the ambulance as a handout, and has instead encouraged them to take responsibility for the use and maintenance of the vehicle.

“It is the property of the people of the region. You have to care it and treat it as valuable, as this is adding value to the lives of the people here in Ituni,” Minister Ally admonished.

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP
The minister explained that the work of the Social Cohesion Ministry spans all sectors, but she remains committed to supporting actions and strengthening key partnerships that contribute to economic and other forms of development, in keeping with President David Granger’s mission to provide the good life for all Guyanese.

“We want to ensure that equity is promoted and decision making processes result in equal opportunities and benefits for all…. Ituni, I want us to work together. I want to see you fully on board in the development process. Work with us and let us build this nation,” she advised.

PROGRESS
Region 10 Chairman Renis Morian saw receipt of the ambulance as an indication that Ituni is moving forward. In an invited comment, he said that during the previous administration, the community “had always been gifted with an old ambulance that would have worked somewhere else; so, in a very short time, that ambulance would go. So today, seeing an APNU-AFC Government bring in a brand new ambulance to the region, this would augur well to the support of healthcare in this region,” he reasoned.

Ms. Sandra Adams, Assistant National Director of the Community Development Council, shared sentiments that are similar to Morian’s, adding that the region and the community are grateful for the vehicle.

“I know that it will mean a great lot, and I know it is going to serve (the purpose for) which it is meant in this community…. the health centre needs an ambulance to take people out. It is very costly when something happens and the people here (have to) spend a lot of money to get out to Linden via private transportation, if they have an emergency; so an ambulance will serve them very well,” she said.

Mrs. Yetunde Pluck-Abel, the Librarian at the community library, said she, too, was pleased about the donation. “It is something we’ve been looking forward [to having] for a long, long time. I must say thanks to the Minister,” she said.

The programme was chaired by Ms. Keisha Griffith-Mc Kane. Dr. Kay Shako, Director of Regional Health Services, represented Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton at the ceremony. She was accompanied by a group of 18 nurses, 15 of whom were from Georgetown while three were from Linden; while the medic attached to the health centre, Ms. Lorna London participated in the event.

A group of students from the Howell Wilson Primary School recited a poem titled “Thank you”. It was specially written for the occasion. Students of the Ituni Nursery School, accompanied by Headteacher Ms. Admal Fox, also attended the ceremony.