Boat and engine for Santa Mission

−To transport emergency, maternity cases

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, February 20, 2020

Santa Mission, an indigenous village located along the Kamuni Creek, is the most recent beneficiary of a boat and engine under the Ministry of Public Health’s Maternal and Child Health project.

The $2.9Million vessel has been fitted with the necessary emergency equipment to serve as a river ambulance and was purchased with a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank.

Staff of General Marine Company, the Supplier of the Boat along with IDB Representatives for the MCH Improvement project and staff of the Minister’s secretariat (standing alongside the boat) with Director of Primary Healthcare Services, Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence and Regional Health Officer, Dr. Cerdel Mc Watt sit inside the boat.

The boat which was handed over to Region Three Health Department for Santa Mission.

Regional Health Officer of Region 3, Dr. Cerdel McWatt, said that neighbouring communities would also be able to utilise the boat.

The vessel will be used to transport pregnant mothers to the nearest secondary healthcare facility – the Diamond Diagnostic Centre

Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence, who officiated the handover, said her ministry had made notable strides to address the high rates of maternal deaths.

“We continue to fill the gaps which exist. A few years ago, we were doing very badly where maternal deaths are concerned and these are just some of the measures we have put in place to ensure we bring maternal deaths to zero; providing timely access to our facilities.”

Boats and engines are among several modes of transportation provided to Regions 3, 4, and 9 to support the Maternal and Child Health Improvement Project since its launch in 2017.

Those regions are being targeted under $1.6Billion (US$8Million) loan to strengthen reproductive, maternal and neonatal health; the healthcare network; and administration and evaluation.

The three regions have previously received fully-equipped ambulances that could cater to both mother and child during transport to the nearest hospital.