MINISTER of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, on Sunday, announced plans for a scoping team to visit and assess the health facilities on the Island of Wakenaam.

This commitment was made during a community engagement held at Maria Johanna in Wakenaam. The minister explained that the team’s visit was to determine “where the deficiencies and the gaps were, and whatever projects we can have revisited by the Ministry of Finance in our half-year review. We’re going to take on that to ensure that we can address as many as we can.”

In an invited comment, the Public Health Minister spoke further about the healthcare facilities on the Essequibo island. “Wakenaam is one of those areas where people are asking for upgraded services. We are aware that the health facilities that were built and exist now… there was no futuristic plan within the building,” Minister Lawrence explained.
This has resulted in the buildings not being properly equipped with a reliable power supply. Through a collaboration with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Minister Lawrence has vowed to ensure the mitigation of the deficiencies.

Furthermore, the minister highlighted transformative plans for the Wakenaam Cottage Hospital. “We want to do a whole re-arrangement of the hospital. We would like to see the hospital having In-Patients. They cannot do so now because they do not have any electricity.”

The scoping team is expected to visit the island during July. After an assessment is done, not lasting more than three days, a report will be submitted to the Minister of Public Health. Wakenaam is one of the largest islands in the Essequibo River. Its main economic activity is agriculture. Rice, coconuts and vegetables are popularly grown on the island.

Minister Lawrence was accompanied by her Cabinet colleague, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, at the community meeting in Maria Johanna, Wakenaam. (DPI)