-President Ali says major investment will ensure improved, more accessible healthcare in Region Nine
-two operating theatres, modern equipment, dialysis facilities among features

WITH bold targets set to transform Guyana’s health sector into one that is world-class, access to healthcare in every corner of the country is of paramount importance to achieving this goal.

In line with this, the sod was turned on Sunday for the construction of a new Lethem Regional Hospital in Region Nine to the tune of almost $6.5 billion.

Delivering the feature address at the sod-turning ceremony, the President Dr. Irfaan Ali indicated that this new health facility serves as another major investment in the country’s healthcare sector and Region Nine.

“Our investment across this country, in every village is to ensure accessibility, quality, equity, sustainability and possibility. Investing to bring out the greatest possibility that we can have in our human resource asset,” he said.

The Head of State indicated that the cost for construction of the hospital amounts to almost $6.5 billion and will be of the same standard as hospitals constructed in urban centres in Georgetown.

He used the opportunity to urge contractors to complete the project before the 24-month timeline.

In providing some details about the new hospital, Dr Ali said that the hospital will have two fully functional operating rooms, a modern Emergency Room with a procedure room for minor surgery, diagnostic imaging services, digital x-rays, a CT machine and three ultrasound machines.

Additionally, the regional hospital will offer laboratory services, outpatient specialised clinics, pharmacy services, two dialysis chairs and a digital health control room among other things.
He highlighted that investment in primary healthcare is important and the government will continue to make these investments.

While plans are underway for the commencement of the construction of the hospital, President Ali said that the directive has been given to the Minister of Health for the facility to be a teaching hospital.

Subsequently, he disclosed that very soon, the government will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the West Indies (UWI) to establish a UWI medical school, pharmacy school and nursing school here in Guyana.

Additionally, he added that regional authorities in Region Nine have indicated to him that there are a group of investors from the state of Roraima who want to invest in a medical school and medical facility here.

He said: “I have this to say to all of you, let us do it; let us build in this region with the support of UWI and University of Guyana, a medical school that can service the state of Roraima, this region and all of Guyana so that we can produce global medical practitioners from right here.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony said that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration has made simple yet strategic investments to improve the lives of Guyanese.

“We have been seeing that we recognise that we can’t just do hospital care, we have to also do primary healthcare meaning that we have to get care closer to where people are living,” Dr Anthony said.

Turning his focus to the new hospital, the health minister added that with all of the amenities set to be in this modern facility, there will be no need for persons to be sent out to Georgetown for treatment as everything will be done at this facility.
He added, “You would have seen the transformation in health in this region in all its facets… but we are not satisfied with that, we want to take it up another notch and this hospital is going to help us to take it up that other notch so that it would be comparable with anything that we have in Georgetown.”

The Lethem Regional Hospital is being built in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

In her remarks, IDB representative, Lorena Solorzano-Salazar, stated that the bank is proud to support the health sector in Guyana.

Salazar stated that the hospital is more than just another piece of infrastructure, but rather it is a critical investment in the future of Region Nine’s citizens’ well-being.

She went on to add that it also reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing public services provided to the hinterland.

“This new hospital demonstrates how targeted infrastructure investment can significantly improve the healthcare access to quality, leading to better outcomes,” she said.