— region continuing to see migration of health workers, says toshao

By Telesha Ramnarine

WITH just months remaining in his six-year term in office, toshao for Kato Village in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Clifton Pereira is hopeful that the new government will pay attention to improving the healthcare system in the hinterland, and possibly even construct a hospital in his village.
In Region Eight, there is a district hospital located in the Mahdia Sub-Region Number Two, hence an emergency or referral would pose quite a few challenges to the residents.

“This is because the only way to get there is by plane, which is expensive. And the weather sometimes makes it impossible to travel. So there is a great need for a district hospital in sub-region One,” Pereira told the Guyana Chronicle in an Online interview.

Speaking from his village, he said a hospital well-equipped to provide service to the 14 villages that make up the sub-region, is badly needed.
“I think Kato is the ideal place to have this hospital; not because this is my village, but it is located almost at the centre of the rest of the villages. And now that the ‘hydro’ project is on stream, power to the hospital can be available 24 hours; I think this is one of the advantages,” he expressed.
For many years, the authorities have been promising to bridge the gap between the hinterland and the coastland, and Pereira has observed that not much has been done towards that end so far.

Because of the lack of equipment in the region, healthcare workers find it difficult to do their job, resulting in their having to leave their community for a better working environment. The residents, of course, have to bear the brunt of such an outcome.
Pereira said he would like to see the new government engaging more with the communities across the hinterland. “Listen to their concerns. After all, those in the communities know what is best for them, so make sure you talk to them before embarking on any project. Now that there is revenue coming in from the oil-and-gas sector, I am asking that the people in the hinterland have their fair share,” he expressed.

CREATING GREATER ACCESS

And this is what the new Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall has undertaken to do. “We are out in the fields; that is how we would be working. We have to have plans that deal with the economy of the region, its infrastructure and social fabric. We cannot continue to have the hinterland remain remote, but we have to create greater access,” he said recently in an interview with this publication.
According to the minister, government will be keen on providing support to the hinterland that is specific to their needs. “We have to enhance communications in the hinterland, and provide more utilities and support in terms of their economic wellbeing. We have to ensure we upgrade their health facilities, as well as their transportation and airstrip. We would also have to ensure greater training and development of our hinterland people,” he added.
He offered that the trails into the villages will have to be constructed and improved to reduce the cost and time of travelling to them. “We have to work on the roads, communication, and health facilities immediately, because when people get sick in those areas, it is very difficult to get them out into a central location,” he acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Toshao Pereira wants to thank everyone who offered him encouragement, advice and other forms of support, especially his family members. “Even though the stipend I receive can barely maintain my family and I, they continue to stand by me. Sometimes I spend less time with them and more time behind village matters; yet they understand my situation, and continue to give me all the support I need, knowing that this is my final term in office,” he said, adding: “I know I have not done enough as I had hoped for in my term of office because of various challenges, but I have laid a foundation so that others can continue from where I left off.”
He has promised to continue lending support to the development of Kato Village, even after demitting office.