–Police probe underway

A SYRINGE was discovered in a water dispenser bottle at the Campbellville Health Centre in Georgetown, and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has refuted reports that staff members fell ill and had to be rushed for medical attention.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the GPHC confirmed that, around 14:00 hours on Friday, a security personnel assigned to the health centre made the concerning discovery of a syringe lodged into a water dispenser bottle in the staff lunchroom.

Upon this discovery, the GPHC said the clinic’s administration promptly alerted both GPHC’s administration and the Chief Internal Security Officer.
“In response, GPHC’s Chief Internal Security Officer promptly contacted the Guyana Police Force and accompanied police officers to the health centre. Contrary to the misinformation circulating on social media, at the time of discovery, no staff reported any adverse health effects,” the statement added.

According to the hospital, in adherence to established protocols, all staff members were immediately transported to the Accident and Emergency Department at GPHC for precautionary screening for any potential toxicological concerns.
Following thorough assessments, it said all staff were discharged and remain in good health, under continued monitoring. Samples from the syringe and water dispenser were swiftly sent to an external laboratory for testing. The results revealed traces of alcohol present in the samples.

In light of this, the GPHC refuted the incorrect information spreading on social media platforms and advised people to take caution and verify all information before sharing potentially misleading content.
The GPHC noted that the health and well-being of its staff and patients are of paramount importance. The incident is currently under probe by the Police and GPHC.