By Michel Outridge

CHRISTIANBURG Wismar Health Centre is managed by Public Health Visitor Alicia Grant, who has confidently been managing the affairs of the facility for the past 10 years.

She was a nurse then qualified as the Medex then after completing her University of Guyana (UG) degree in Public Health/Nursing she became the Public Health Visitor.

Grant is a Wisroc resident but is familiar with the people of Christianburg, Wismar, because of her connection to the community.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that the health centre was established since in the 1970s but was relocated to its current location where a new building was constructed in 2015.

Grant added that they provide primary health care to the people of the three sections of the village, as well as outlying areas such as Blueberry Hill and the greater portion of Burnham Drive and all the alleys.

The frontline health worker stated that they provide basic services such as ante-natal, pregnant mother’s clinic, immunisation, family planning, chronic diseases, out-patient and dental services.

Grant pointed out that if patients from out of the catchment area show up for medical care they do not refuse them, like some other health centres.

The Christianburg Health Centre has 22 staffers and they operate five days per week from 08:30hrs to 16:30hrs.

Most of the employees reside outside of Christianburg and they commute daily and seem to like their jobs, observing their professional conduct and mannerisms.

They have all guidelines in place and they practise them for COVID-19 and hand-washing is a must before entry to the facility.

A face mask is necessary for entry as well and they have a triage area set up just by the front entrance where the temperatures of all visitors are tested before entry.

She stated that they have to manage with the resources they get through the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Christianburg Health Centre has a vaccination room with a cold-storage area, a doctor’s room with a resident doctor, records department, a dental section and a waiting area.

The facility is clean and everything seems to be intact and it has a homey feeling, unlike some healthcare facilities.

“Primary health care allows you to interact with patients in an informal setting and it gives you the opportunity to educate and promote good health as well as prevention of diseases at a grassroot level, where people can speak freely,” she said.

Grant disclosed that last year it was challenging for them, because of the pandemic parents were not bringing the children to be vaccinated; as such, they had a tall task of going to homes to immunise the babies and children.

She noted that this year she hopes it will be different because it was quite tiresome doing that house-to-house outreach to ensure that all children were vaccinated to prevent diseases and outbreaks.

Grant reported that they do outreaches to the riverine communities in the Berbice River often and they would go to Upper Demerara River, to Malali, Muritaro which is an hour and a half boat ride.

She stated that they would also visit Gold Hill and Dalawalla, but over time the population has dwindled.