PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to expanding and investing in healthcare across Guyana’s hinterland, noting that there have been significant improvements over the past four years.

The Head of State made this statement while addressing Indigenous leaders at the recently concluded National Toshaos Council Conference (NTC) which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

Highlighting a series of major accomplishments, he noted, “In 2024, because of the investment we made in healthcare in Region One, we had zero referrals out of the region.”
He also reported that less than one per cent of patients required medical evacuation, citing improved neonatal services and upgraded health centres as contributing factors.
Between 2021 and 2024, Region One benefitted from the training of over 330 healthcare workers and the provision of essential transportation, including 16 ATVs, six ambulances, pickups, minibuses, motorcycles, and more than 25 boats and engines to enhance patient and health worker mobility.

“This is investment in healthcare to move patients, to move health workers,” President Dr. Irfaan Ali remarked.
At the Mabaruma Regional Hospital, surgeries increased dramatically from just 15 under the previous administration to approximately 570 in 2024.
Similarly, the Moruca District Hospital conducted 85 elective surgeries within the same year.

More than 10,000 residents of Region One received eye tests, with 7,012 of them receiving free spectacles.
Against this backdrop, close to 1,000 women were screened for Human papillomavirus (HPV) even as 56 vaccination sites were set up across Region One.

Additionally, President Ali pointed out that under the previous administration, there were no oxygen plants in Region One. Today, the region is producing 200 large and 1,050 small cylinders of oxygen locally.

“These are the developments that we talk about,” he said.
Across other hinterland regions, the President commended the implementation of telemedicine sites, a reduction in malaria cases, and improvements in the availability of drugs and medical supplies.

With this, the Head of State pledged that there would be further upgrades undertaken with expanded laboratory services, the implementation of the electronic health record system, among other things.

President Ali affirmed, “We’re going to continue this investment.”