“WE want to provide a safer, healthier [service] for all who live in Region Three,” says Cuban–trained Dr. Cerdel McWatt, who two months ago assumed responsibility as Regional Health Officer (RHO), and for the healthcare programme in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

Dr McWatt was reassigned from Region One (Barima-Waini) where he worked for the last four years. The doctor, who hails from Berbice but also spent time in Georgetown and Linden, sees Region Three as having great capacity in terms of healthcare delivery, and in terms of Guyana’s 2020 vision.

He said that while most of the region’s targets are not quite met, with team spirit, they hope to achieve them. “This fiscal year 2019 has already met the region with a lot of challenges and health-related concerns, but as we work assiduously to correct those problems, especially maternal and infant mortality, we hope to be able to be well on the road in reaching our promises to the SDGs, which is 70 to 100, 000 population, as in having deaths lower than that,” he related to the Guyana Chronicle.

“So far, we have not been doing that well; there are lots of approaches in terms of application to protocols, based on the Ministry of Public Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), along with other NGO initiatives that they would have put in place in order to curb such, and we are expected to follow those guidelines very closely, in the interest of the populace residing in the region,” he added.

He pointed out that, moreover, special interest is placed on family health, and that is based on the region’s vaccination programme, one of the challenges at the region is facing. “It is not to say that we have no targets or accomplished any, but in that aspect, there is room for improvement in antigen coverage, and moreso, among our migrant population which is growing.”

On this note, Dr McWatt disclosed that there is special initiative gearing in terms of tackling that aspect, and expressed the hope that at the end of this fiscal year, the region will do better.

He noted that the infectious disease programme should be well on its way, with the establishment of an infectious disease ward to add to the existing clinic. That project is expected to be opened at the end of the second quarter, as most of the implementations are well underway. He expressed appreciation for the National Tubercolosis Programme, and by extension the Ministry of Public Health, for their inputs to the scheme.

“We are also looking at the bottom-up approach, whereby the systems at the Level One and Two facilities are enhanced, that is by ensuring that the facilities at both levels are equipped. The focus is currently on Level Two, with the policy of doctors first to be applied and then on a rotational basis with the medex and physicians visiting the Level One in terms of the health posts, the RHO, who has had extensive training in infectious diseases and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). said.

He noted, too, that efforts are being made to improve the services offered at the Leonora Hospital and the cottage hospitals at Leguan and Wakenaam, where there is a decentralisation of medical services so that persons who live there can access healthcare. That service entails basic imaging, laboratory, and physiotherapy, which, to some extent, is already in existence, but which the region is aiming to improve.

Further, Dr McWatt disclosed that he is currently at closing stages of his studies for a Master’s Degree in Public Health.