–as president promised to improve all riverine health facilities

IN order to bring relief to the riverine community of Bonasika, the government will be investing in the development of the Lower Bonasika Health Centre.

This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who, on a recent visit to the Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands) community, addressed various concerns that were brought to his attention by health workers attached to the centre.

In addressing one of those concerns, which is the need for a speedboat specially assigned to the centre, Minister Harmon said that a businessman has expressed an interest in donating two boats to the government to be used as they see fit, and that based on certain recommendations, he will try to get one for the community.

He promised Bonasika residents that he will pass on their other health-related concerns to Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence, as President David Granger, at the just-concluded Health Expo, would have noted that the entire health system needs to be based on community health services.

“So that at the level of the community, the best health services will be provided, and therefore no person should go beyond a five- kilometer range for them to be able to find a suitable health service,” Harmon said, adding:

“Because these communities are far-flung, that means that we have to equip their health facilities with all of the facilities of a small hospital.”
Noting that the foregoing idea is President Granger’s, Minister Harmon said it will also be the focus of the Ministry of Public Health.

He told the villagers that whatever other concerns they may have can be dealt with and resolved at a regional level, as the REO will be facilitating those meetings.

Besides the need for the health centre to have a boat at its disposal, health worker Dooknie Ramsamoog also raised with the minister the issue of residents being given an opportunity to elevate themselves, especially if they dedicate their lives to serving the community.
“We would be grateful for opportunities to be sent for training, because, for me, I would spend the rest of my life serving my community,” Ramsamoog said.

Regional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikaran said that gasoline is given every month by the region to every community to assist with transportation arrangements of workers to execute their duties.