Angela Stephen, like most other residents, says that there is a need to access better healthcare in Kumaka Village since the health post at Caria Caria is not functioning as it should.

The mother of two told the Pepperpot Magazine that she was ill recently and could not get the needed help at the facility.
Like many others, she was then forced to go to Fort Island to get treatment.

“At times we get sick and basic pain medications we cannot get, so we have to travel out of here to seek medical attention and when there is an emergency we have to go to Goldfield place for help.”

Stephens said that the community needs its own health outpost with an active community health worker to serve the medical needs of the people. Medications, especially for the sickly and elderly should also be readily available.
“Imagine you sick and you have to get a boat to take you elsewhere…it is not fair for us to have to spend so much money to go out the village to get medical attention.”

Stephens is of the opinion that the current worker at the Caria Caria post needs to do more for the community.

Along with accusations of incompetence, the villager also feels that new blood in needed at the facility—since the current worker has been at the post for a very long time.

She disclosed too that the community needs a secondary school because students have to go to high schools located on the Essequibo Coast or at Parika and it is costly venture.

Meanwhile, Anita De Camp also interacted with the Pepperpot Magazine and reported that the village well, which is at Caria Caria should be operational for residents to get potable water.

She noted that during the dry season, which is current on, people in the community have difficulties sourcing water. A single standpipe would help to alleviate the problem, the housewife noted.

De Camp is originally from Hogg Island, Essequibo River but relocated to the community 30 years ago.

The Pepperpot Magazine also talked to another resident, Andre Daniels, who stated that a lot is needed to enhance the lives of the people living on the mainland.

He added that drains need to be dredged for better irrigation for farming and that bridges linking the villages should be repaired.

The father of two resides a few villages away at King William, where former President Donald Ramotar is from.

Daniels reported that he is a miner and a farmer since it is necessary to do more than one jobs to support his family.

“The people are in need of basic things and if they get it, it will improve their lives significantly and they can prosper,” he said.