IN light of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the regional task force formed in Bartica to protect the people of the entire Cuyuni Mazaruni region, have been implementing several strategies to keep COVID-19 out of the region.

This task force comprising of regional officials and police officers, is headed by Regional Health Officer, Dr. Edward Sagala, with the support of Deputy Regional Health Officer, Dr. Julian Clementson; Bartica Hospital Superintendent, Dr. Gillian Jardine; Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford; and Regional Executive Officer, Kerwin Ward, among others.
Thus far, the task force has been able to keep the virus out of the region by educating its people on its dangers and preventative measures.

Bradford told the Guyana Chronicle that this has not been an easy task, due to the magnitude of this virus.

He said that the team meets every 48 hours to work out ways in which they can continue keeping the people safe.

Highlighting that they have since sent a team to Upper and Middle Mazaruni villages such as Iteringbang, Kaikan, Issano, Kurupung and others, and have been educating these indigenous communities about this worldwide threat, and giving medical services.
Bradford also mentioned that these teams are working assiduously and putting the people first. In fact, he said, the team sent to Middle Mazaruni has not returned to Bartica, and the government, on Wednesday ordered closure of the airstrip so the team will be stuck in that part of the region until they can source alternative transportation down the rough Cuyuni River.

As it relates to the protection of the people of Bartica, in addition to the ‘stay home’ mandate implemented by the town council, screening of incoming passgengers is now mandatory.

The Department of Health, with support from the Regional Health Emergency Committee, has established a medical screening unit at the Bartica Stelling as part of its efforts in the fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the region.

The screening unit will monitor persons arriving by boats at the Stelling. All will be subject to such screening.

Bradford said that they are urging all boats to offload at the stelling for screening and then they can go to drop off at other neighbouring villages like Iteballi and so forth.
There are also a number of wash sinks installed at the landing facility for use by the travelling public.

Similar facilities are now being considered for other points of entry to the town.

Additionally, Chairman shared that preparatory work has started at the Bartica Community Centre to transform the facility into a temporary quarantine centre.

“We are doing as much as we can to protect our people and it is just on them now to comply for their own safety. I must applaud some businesses for cooperating and taking it upon themselves to institute some measures for the safety of the people. I still believe that the ordinary residents seem not to understand the nature of this disease because a lot of them still aren’t practising social distancing, and staying home. But we are not giving up. We will continue to do all that is necessary to ensure that COVID-19 stays out of Region Seven,” he said.