$46M maternal waiting home commissioned at Mabaruma

Expectant mothers in Mabaruma in Region One now have a safe and comfortable maternal home to rest and relax before giving birth.

Pregnant women from remote communities who are in the middle of their third trimester or at 8 months (34 weeks), will have access to the medical facility.

The $46 million facility, commissioned on Tuesday, comes equipped with 12 beds (6 pre-and postnatal each), a kitchen, dining area, washroom, a delivery room and an on-call room.

The facility will ensure that high-risk mothers and those with other complications have access to specialised care that will minimise the risk of maternal and neonatal mortalities.

The first waiting facility in Region One was commissioned at Moruca. With the addition of the Mabaruma maternal waiting home, the government has now developed eight maternal facilities in Guyana.

During the commissioning ceremony, the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, said the government is committed to providing high-quality maternal care nationwide.

“This has helped us to reduce maternal mortality. We are very pleased with the results from the first centre we had in Region Nine…I think this is a worthy investment. This reflects the very nature of the PPP/C Government. All of our policies are geared toward enhancing the lives of our people. This is one such way in which we believe we can make people’s lives better,” Dr Anthony noted.  

Training in healthcare, new X-ray machine

Dr. Anthony appealed to the public to fully utilise the services that are offered order to avoid complications during pregnancies.

He said that individuals from the region and elsewhere are being trained in various health programmes to complement the expansion of health facilities.

A new $80 million Simen digital X-ray machine will soon be installed at Mabaruma Regional Hospital a wide range of services to residents.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley said that the opening of the maternal home represents a significant milestone in the region’s journey to improving healthcare access while creating new possibilities and hope for mothers and their communities.

Regional Executive Officer, Mr Sewchand; Regional Health Officer, Dr Steven Cheefoon and Mabaruma’s Mayor, Trevi Leung, attended the opening ceremony and delivered brief remarks.

Regional Vice Chairperson, Annansha Peters and Hinterland Health Coordinator, Michael Gouveia, was also in attendance at the event.