OWING to the rapidly increasing number of persons being affected by diabetes, residents of East Coast, who travel to the Diabetic Foot Centre in Georgetown, will now be spared the journey and long wait with the opening of a new Diabetic Foot Centre at Lusignan.
The Diabetic Foot Centre, which was recently launched, is being housed in the Lusignan Health Centre and will cater to the needs of a number of residents living on the East Coast corridor with diabetic foot-related challenges. At the launch a number of residents from surrounding communities turned out to have a firsthand experience of the services that are being provided.

The centre, which operates from 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs, offers all the services that are currently being offered by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Diabetic Foot Centre. Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Four, Dr Quincy Jones, said that the establishment of this centre is a significant achievement by his department.

He said that it was on the cards since assuming the position of RHO. He noted that there is a growing need for Diabetic Foot centres, owing to the rapidly increasing number of persons being affected by diabetes.

“We have recognised as a department and more so, as a Region the urgent need to establish centres like these, which will cater effectively to the needs of persons living with diabetes, and, being cognizant of the significant importance of efficient foot care, my department has sought to establish three diabetic foot centres, which will be within the East Coast corridor with Lusignan being the first,” an evidently pleased Dr Jones said.

He urged residents to utilise the centre, noting that the establishment of the centre comes after consultation and review of concerns and requests made by residents. He said that the centre can only be effective if it is fully utilised and accessed by residents.
He disclosed that while many may be accustomed to visiting GPHC DFC, they should recognise that Lusignan DFC may be much closer to their home and as such they should utilise it.

“Unfortunately we have a concern, as some persons being accustomed in visiting Georgetown for almost all medical services may once again feel that they can only be properly attended to by the staff at GPHC DFC. However, this is a myth which we are hoping would be dismissed; as I can tell you that we invested extra into training the staff for this Lusignan DFC. Therefore, I am urging all to utilise the centre. Please don’t continue to visit GPHC DFC when you can benefit from similar services being offered by Lusignan DFC, and also you may be able to access these services much faster owing to the fact that the number of patients being attended to at Lusignan may be far less than those at GPHC DFC,” he said.

Regarding staff at the Diabetic Foot Centre, the RHO stressed that all relevant systems, including having adequate staff, are being addressed, noting that the centre currently has a full team of doctors and nurses.

However, he said that with growing patients’ needs and visits they may have to increase the numbers since he is satisfied that at the moment the centre is adequately staffed, declaring that the residents of East Coast are once again benefiting from another innovative initiative by the region.

“We continue to seek ways and means in improving and enhancing the delivery of health care within Region Four and therefore this is a testimony of our continued commitment, dedication and determination to delivering a very high level of health care to all,” he said.
Head of the Lusignan DFC, Keng-On Liu said that he is happy to have been entrusted with the responsibility of running the centre. He is excited and eager to ensure that they can deliver a service that is second to none. He disclosed that his team of nurses is eagerly excited reaffirming the RHO’s commitment of delivering a very high level of service to those who would be accessing the centre.

“We are cognizant of the importance such a centre plays in the lives of those living with diabetes and we are also aware that having a centre closer to the homes of many is certainly an opportunity for many to regularly monitor and seek assistance in maintaining healthy and properly kept diabetic feet. Thus this centre is important in so many ways,” Dr Liu said.

The DFC head declared that he, like his staff, would be ensuring that patients who access the centre can be guided into improving their overall health, adding that the Regional health department is on an aggressive mission to bring more services to persons, irrespective of the community and or their location.

Melanie, Plaisance Health Centres and the CC Nicholson Hospital are the others that will be operational soon as it relates to Diabetic Foot Centres.