–Dr. Jagdeo says, highlights strides in health sector

AS the opposition continues its obsession with race-baiting and “short-sighted” economic philosophies, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has outlined the significant strides the government is making in healthcare delivery.

During a press conference at Freedom House, on Thursday, Dr. Jagdeo shed light on the government’s unwavering commitment to development.

One of the most landmark achievements for the PPP, in its current tenure, was the recent opening of the Diamond Regional Hospital, the first of several state-of-the-art regional hospitals set to be completed in the coming months.

He said: “…A lot of people would say we are opening these hospitals because of the elections. But they represent several years of work and the decision to build these hospitals took place three, four years ago when the feasibility studies were done and we had to raise the money and everything and award the contracts.

“So, this is the fruit of several years of work and we’re happy that they are being open before the elections because they’re consistent with our promise to work towards delivering world-class healthcare for our people, and we’re closer to that goal in the five years and we have to account for that stewardship.”

The health infrastructure push also includes the construction of two European Standard, state-of-the-art hospitals at Ogle and in New Amsterdam.

He highlighted that the Bartica Hospital and the West Demerara Hospital will also be rebuilt and the government is spending at least $30 million to upgrade Linden’s hospital.

In spite of the narratives by “nitpickers” and “gripers,” the General Secretary, who also serves as Guyana’s Vice President pointed out that the development of the health sector goes beyond brick and mortar.

“There’s a comprehensive plan,” he said.

Massive investments in medical personnel training and recruitment, both local and international, strategic partnerships with top-tier international hospital chains and increased availability of medical supplies, drastic improvements of the conditions compared to the APNU+AFC era were highlighted by the Vice President, as just some of the measures taken that are aimed at improving access to healthcare.

“We don’t differentiate on the level of care or where the hospitals are built. We got to bring access to all of our people, whether they live in the hinterland or on the coast,” the Vice President firmly stated.

With a slew of new health centres having been built and several new hospitals on the horizon, Guyana’s medical landscape has seen a sweeping transformation.

The Diamond Regional Hospital is the first of six new health facilities that will be commissioned in a wider programme that is being pursued by the Government of Guyana to improve healthcare delivery.

Others are being built at Enmore, Lima Sands, Lethem, Bath, Number 75 Village and Kato.