Diamond Diagnostic Centre for “SMART” upgrade
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DPI, Guyana, Monday, January 21, 2019
The Ministry of Public Health on Monday morning unveiled a billboard at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre as part of the Smart Healthcare Initiative to provide upgraded and environmentally friendly services.
The centre on the East Bank of Demerara is one of the five health facilities identified by the ministry to be upgraded. Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence stated that apart from resilience the facility will become one “where the services can be provided in such a manner that there is no cumbersomeness in terms of the patients accessing the services and the staff being able to provide those services.”
She added that the initiative “is a great take away for the health sector, we will borrow from this procedure and ensure that we implement it as we go along into the other health facilities.”
Also delivering brief remarks was UK High Commissioner Greg Quinn who expressed his pleasure to be involved in a project which will “directly impact the lives” of Guyanese in several areas.
“The fundamental goal for us is to ensure that no matter what happens, no matter where it happens, no matter how it happens people will still have access to the fundamental health care which is so important.”
Dr. William Adu-Krow, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) representative for the Guyana office said that while the initiative looks at providing safe healthcare, it also covers the green aspect “which is making sure that we use renewable energy, making sure the lights and gadgets that we use are energy compliant, making sure that the cooling systems are good, we have reservoirs of water, of energy. So, when you put those together we have the smart hospital initiative.”
The other facilities identified are Leonora Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Mabaruma and Lethem Regional Hospitals and the Paramakatoi Health Centre.
The ‘SMART Hospital’ concept refers to a health facility which is both safe and utilises green technology. Hospitals and other health facilities embracing this concept must provide standard and efficient health care before, during, and even immediately after the event of any natural or man-made disaster. The upgrades under the SMART initiative project are expected to be completed by May to June 2020.
Anara Khan.
Images: Keno George.