WINSTON Churchill, who will be remembered as an inspirational statesman, a prolific writer and award winning author, famously said, “Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.”

We all know that good health is the foundation of life and contributes immensely to one’s happiness and the length of time they spend on this earth.

Further, healthy bodies are necessary for the development of any country. And while there is that personal responsibility to take care of one’s well-being, the government must provide the necessary resources for every citizen to achieve this and ensure everyone has equal access to healthcare services.

Since being elected to office, the government has said that it wants to bridge the gap between the hinterland and the coast in many areas including the delivery of healthcare.

In this regard, massive amounts of resources have been delivered to the population through the Ministry of Health. It is clear that the aim is to ensure that citizens in every part of the country have access to the same level of medical care.

Guyana has several hinterland regions which collectively are home to about 20 per cent of the population. Access to medical services could be complicated by numerous factors including the remoteness of a community and the lack of proper facilities, staff and equipment.

To counter this, the government has invested billions of dollars over the years and has implemented programmes that would help to improve access to health services.

One such initiative is the telemedicine programme which was rolled out in several hinterland communities in December 2022.

As part of the programme, a medex uses telecommunication technology to interact with specialists based in Georgetown, who are able to listen to the patient as though they were in the same room and make a diagnosis.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, recently disclosed that this programme has so far saved two lives in Masakenari (Gunns Village), South Rupununi, Region Nine. While he did not provide specific details, this information confirms that the programme has been successful thus far. It also signals that Guyana is serious about modernising the healthcare system.

Subject minister, Dr. Frank Anthony recently disclosed that as part of the telemedicine programme, the MoH will be expanding the tele-diagnostics programme, while expanding the existing teleophthalmology and teleradiology programmes. Teleophthalmology is now available at several sites across Guyana. To support these plans, government is strengthening the information and communications framework in the hinterland.

Included in the recently approved $84.8 billion budgetary allocation for the health ministry is some $1.8 billion which will go towards the rehabilitation, expansion and reconstruction of the Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Linden Hospitals, as well as four telemedicine centres in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

An achievement that deserves a big round of applause is the recently completed operating theatre and recovery room at the Mabaruma Hospital. Ministry Anthony shared this news on his official Facebook page.

Mabaruma and other communities in Region One have faced challenges, many challenges regarding the provision of healthcare.

The presence of Venezuelan migrants and Guyanese who have ventured to the region for work, have exacerbated the situation. The presence of an operating theatre will lessen the amount of persons who will have to be flown to Georgetown for surgery.

The soon to be implemented telemedicine programme and the new theatre will definitely improve access to healthcare in that region.

Earlier this week, it was disclosed that 24-hour laboratory services are now available at the Suddie Public Hospital, while this service at the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital will close off at 21:00 hours instead 16:30 hours.

Here again the government has demonstrated how serious it is about improving access to healthcare. Things have gotten better across the healthcare sector and by the looks of things, the gap is slowing closing.

Pretty soon, those in the hinterland will be able to boast about the high quality of healthcare delivery they are receiving. They will no longer have to venture to the city to access any health service.