THE Ministry of Public Health has begun work on $21M and $22M projects, which will see the construction of new doctors’ quarters to accommodate several specialists and a Centre to facilitate an x-ray and ultrasound department at the Upper Mazaruni regional hospital.
The Regional and Clinical Programme Officer, Ministry of Public Health, Caroline Hicks, stated that, the ministry embarked on an expansion project at the Upper Mazaruni Hospital in Kamarang, to provide accessibility to facilities that the residents of the Upper Mazaruni region were not able to access in the past.
“In every region we want persons to access the same care, the same services as Georgetown. We have an area that is under construction now for the specialist personnel, so that persons here can access services that are offered in Georgetown right here in region seven and some of the same services we will have specialists staying in this region and that is why we are expanding the hospital so that persons can stay in this region,” Ms. Hicks explained.
She added that the project will see less persons from the region having to travel from the interior to Georgetown to access the said facilities.
Dr. Stefano Duncan, the regional doctor who has been stationed at the upper Mazaruni District Hospital for the past three years, expressed immense pleasure with the initiative and noted that, when the expansion project is complete, it will be a great benefit to the residents of the Upper Mazaruni region.
“I have seen quite great development over the past three years; for an extended period of time we needed ultra sounds and x-rays so persons who need these services, can soon access them because, to God be the glory, right now we have in process the construction of a doctors’ quarters which will facilitate and x-ray and ultrasound department right here in Kamarang,” he stated.
Earlier this month The Director General of the Ministry of The Presidency, Joseph Harmon, announced, at a Post-Cabinet briefing, that facilities will be put in place to accommodate doctors in the Upper Mazaruni area, specifically in Kamarang, with the construction of Doctors’ Quarters. J’s General Store and Construction Company will be working on the $22M project.
The same construction company will also carry out the rehabilitation and extension of the Kamarang District Hospital. The works to be done at the hospital will cost $21M. These upgrades will allow for the provision of additional services as there is an increased patient load at the facility which is the only secondary health facility located in that section of the Cuyuni/Mazaruni Region.
