-Health Ministry advances mission to serve remote communities

IN a powerful demonstration of its commitment to equitable healthcare delivery, the Ministry of Health recently led a major medical outreach to the remote Indigenous communities of Orealla and Siparuta, nestled deep within the Berbice River.

Located in Region Six and accessible almost exclusively by river, Orealla/Siparuta is no stranger to the challenges of geographic isolation.
But for residents here, access to healthcare just got a little closer to home. A dedicated team of medical professionals, headed by Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, journeyed into the interior to deliver a wide range of critical health services.

The outreach team included an eye specialist, a dental surgeon, a doctor of internal medicine, general medical practitioners, and a medex, who worked side by side to provide comprehensive care. Residents received eye examinations, dental procedures, chronic disease screenings, and general medical consultations—services that often require long and costly trips to coastal health centres.
For many community members, it was a rare and welcome opportunity to receive quality healthcare without leaving home. “This visit made a big difference for us,” said one resident. “It’s hard to travel out of here, and now we got to see doctors right where we live.”

Dr. Mahadeo also used the visit to inspect local health facilities and assess the implementation of the Ministry’s innovative Telemedicine Programme, recently introduced in the area.
The programme aims to bridge the distance between patients in remote communities and specialist doctors in urban centres, using digital technology to deliver real-time medical consultations.
In addition, the team promoted the use of government-issued healthcare vouchers, designed to ease the financial burden of medical care and expand access to essential services.

This outreach effort is part of a broader strategy by the Ministry of Health to strengthen primary healthcare systems nationwide, especially in hinterland and riverine communities. “No matter where you live in Guyana,” Dr. Mahadeo reaffirmed, “you deserve access to quality healthcare. That is the commitment we are fulfilling.”

As the government continues to prioritise health equity, residents of Orealla/Siparuta are now part of a growing number of communities witnessing the direct impact of this outreach-driven approach, bringing not just treatment, but hope and assurance, closer to home.