AS part of an effort to directly address the concerns of Guyanese, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) hosted an open-day exercise which attracted many persons, who not only raised concerns about medical problems, but also used the opportunity to lament non-medical issues.

“Many persons either do not understand the system or they have issues with matters to be done for them…for instance, some persons would have gone privately for medical attention and they do not have the wherewithal to continue with that and then heard they cannot go to the public system…we met with them and clarified those issues,” said Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence in an invited comment on the sidelines of the open-day exercise in the ministry’s compound on Wednesday.

In addition to the minister, present at the open-day exercise were officials from various departments within the public health ministry. The widespread representation from the ministry gave persons an opportunity to ensure their issues and concerns were thoroughly addressed.

Minister Lawrence reiterated that the concerns were diverse, noting: “we have had several persons, who raised issues related to the Ministry of Public Health and other ministries… I dispatched letters introducing them to ministers, transferred matters for the ombudsman, and heard about issues related to NIS and matters pertaining to labour.

“I am very happy I was able to address those concerns…even staff of the ministry visited…so the open day was really an opportunity to let people have a hearing and to have their matters to address…remember those matters might have affected a few people or just one person, so it was a good opportunity for them to find redress for the issues affecting them.”
The minister said her intent is to set aside a specific day in every quarter of the year for the ministry to engage persons directly; the activity will be decentralised and not be specific to only Georgetown.

Minister Lawrence said the ministry’s aim, after the upcoming elections in March, will be to branch out to different regions in order to hear and address the concerns of every Guyanese.

As the ministry mulls expansion of the activity, persons have already welcomed the initiative and said it was beneficial to them in more ways than one.
A senior citizen, Mortha Aaron, who travelled from Wismar, Linden, had an opportunity to advocate for transportation for children living with disabilities, to attend school.
“These lil children are living with disabilities, so I am looking for government to provide transportation for them to attend school,” said Aaron. She added that as a great grandmother of a child living with a disability, she expends at least $5,000 to get her grandson to school on a daily basis.

Another senior citizen, Joseph Earle, said he was accompanying his nephew who is a person living with disability, to engage Minister Lawrence on a matter which has been persistent over the years.

“We came here because we are confident about the response we are to receive from the minister, who I believe is an effective member of the government,” said Earle.
He believes the ministry’s open-day initiative is one which should be replicated by other ministries since it gives the ordinary citizen an opportunity to have his/her concerns effectively addressed.

In emphasising his satisfaction with the exercise and with the work of the government, Earle said: “I believe that the ministry and many other ministries have been delivering for the public…it is unfortunate that their time has been hampered by incredible and disruptive actions, but I believe if they are to get a second term, the delivery for the public would be outstanding.”