WITH President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s pledge to have modern medical facilities services available in Region One, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, and a team of healthcare providers visited Moruca Village where they held a medical outreach, in addition to commissioning the telemedicine system at the Waramuri District Health Centre.

The team was greeted by several residents (including children and the elderly) who had been eagerly awaiting the minister’s arrival to launch the well-received medical service.
In his opening remarks, Minister Anthony said: “As you know, the president was in this part of Region One not so long ago, and one of the things that he said is that he wanted us to make sure that we bring a team of doctors to come and do several things. He added that these things included: eye testing, dentistry, and cancer screening to name a few.

“So today you have a very comprehensive team I would say, and what we want to do is ensure that people are properly streamlined so that we can be as effective as possible,” he said.
He reassured residents that while his team will try to see as many persons as they could, they will remain on ground for several days to further serve communities.
Moreover, in a significant move to further boost healthcare in that part of the region, the minister spoke about the telemedicine service that will be provided to residents.
He explained, “So basically, sometimes you have a difficult case may come here and let’s say medex looked at the case, (and) she’s not too sure how complicated this person might be. Then what she can do? Because they would have a computer, you can open up the computer, that computer is connected to the internet, and she would be able to talk to a doctor, either at Mabaruma or in Georgetown.”

Further, Minister Anthony stated that the doctor in either of these locations will appear on screen, allowing residents to use certain devices to help doctors in determining the patient’s diagnosis.
An ultrasound unit will also be installed there. He mentioned that 25 of these systems are in operation and have helped the communities they were installed in.
In approximately two months, the minister said they will install an additional 25, with Waramuri being selected as one of the areas to benefit.
Additionally, the installation of internet service allows for residents to participate in training opportunities offered by the Ministry of Health and upon successful completion they will be hired.
Meanwhile, the minister added, “In this region, we’re making a lot of investments in health. So one of the investment’s that we’re doing, we’re building a new hospital for you. Today (Wednesday), it is in the newspaper so that businesses, persons can bid to build this hospital. With this hospital, we expect that it will have modern facilities.

“…it will have 24 hours accident and emergency, it will have a 24-hour laboratory, it will have a pharmacy, and it will have different types of diagnostic imaging; things like ultrasound, and x-ray, and we’re putting for the first time in the region, a CT scan,” the minister noted, adding that this would minimise residents having to leave their region to come to Georgetown (or elsewhere) for this service, and many others.
Notably, the health minister said that monies were set aside in the budget for the construction of living quarters for doctors and nurses who will be working at the hospital.

He stated that on completion, residents will have a ‘good’ healthcare facility and further explained that this is one of the government’s programmes to try and enhance the quality of health services being offered to the people in the interior of Guyana.
He mentioned the construction of similar hospitals in Kamarang, Kato, and Lethem. Each of these is expected to commence this year.
Minister Anthony added that they are working to construct one at Bartica as well.
“So you will see a lot of changes, and things will improve,” he stated.