Govt in talks with Austrian counterpart to strengthen local health sector, the use of hydropower among other areas

DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 16, 2018

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence today, met with Austrian Ambassador to Guyana, Marianne Feldmann and representatives of VAMED and Andritz Hydro to discuss prospects in strengthening the local health sector and the use of hydropower in the country.

[left to right] Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and Austrian Ambassador to Guyana, Marianne Feldmann along with their respective teams.

The discussions were held at the Ministry of Finance’s boardroom, Lamaha Street.

Minister Lawrence told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that as the government continues to work assiduously to provide quality healthcare to all its citizens countrywide, this initial meeting with Ambassador Feldmann and representatives of VAMED, one of the leading companies in the healthcare, will further enable future collaborations and assistance in the modification of services offered to the Guyanese.

“We discussed the possibilities of the Austrian government through companies helping us to improve on our physical structures and also to extend the services which we offer. Primarily this morning we spoke of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and sought to address some of the more critical needs at the hospital.” She noted that this meeting is the first of many slated with the Austrian government.

Ambassador Feldmann said that her visit is to introduce two wellestablished companies whose operations have benefited her country. The ambassador expressed the hope that stemming from this meeting is the likelihood of a team from VAMED working with the government to establish a feasibility study.

“There is a lot of interest in Guyana. We know the country has great prospects and we will have a common future together,” Ambassador Feldmann said.

The team will also visit Lethem to evaluate the hydro plants near the Brazil border.

VAMED is a global provider for hospitals and other facilities in the healthcare sector which ranges from project development, planning and turnkey construction via maintenance, technical, commercial and infrastructure services to the total facility management of healthcare facilities.

Meanwhile, Andritz Hydro is a global supplier of electromechanical systems and services (from water-to-wire) for hydropower plants and one of the leaders in the world market for hydraulic power generation.

Guyana and Austria have enjoyed cordial relations since April 1973.

 

By: Neola Damon

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