Health sector underwent massive development in 2019 – EoY report

—New services added at GPHC

—$760M spent on medical equipment

—Hinterland health posts upgraded to health centres

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, July 5, 2020

The Ministry of Finance’s 2019 End of Year Report has stated that of the $35.9Billion allocated to the Health sector, $34.7B was expended.

The sector has seen several developmental projects being rolled out, with a series of upgrades being facilitated at health facilities throughout the country.

New services were introduced at the National Referral Hospital, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in the areas of haematology and radiology.

These services include Contrast CT and CT Angiogram, Mammograms and Ultrasound-Guided Biopsies. Also, a ForceTriad machine was purchased and put into operation, facilitating the use of LigaSure technology during laparoscopic surgery.

Health facilities in several regions also saw the introduction and addition of new services.

Some noteworthy ones are ultrasound at the Buxton health centre, EKG at CC Nicholson Hospital as well as at Plaisance, Mocha, and Long Creek health centres; a dental clinic at President’s College; dialysis in Region 6; ophthalmology in Region 7; VIA cryotherapy in Region 8; and, urology in Region 10.

Incubators, laser therapy machines, foetal dopplers, dental x-ray machines, infant warmers and anaesthetic machines were also purchased for health facilities across the country. $760.7M was expended in this regard

There were several new facilities established and expansion/upgrades to others. $2.5 Billion was expended on the maintenance and construction of buildings in the health sector.

Among these were the living quarters constructed at Kamarang, Kaikan, Lethem, Wiruni, Mabaruma, Leguan and Mabura to house additional medical personnel to serve those communities

“The new, state-of-the-art, drug storage bond for the Central Supplies Unit at Kingston, costing almost $540 million, was commissioned, while the extension of the bond for the Material Management Unit at Diamond was completed for $116 Million.

The sum of $149.5 million was spent on the completion of the Port Kaituma Hospital and another $31 million was used to commence the design of a new laboratory for the Food and Drug Analyst Department,” the report stated.

Additionally, in 2019 the government expended $26.6 Million for the deployment of the Geographic Health Information System (GHIS) to 15 health facilities. With this system in place, the capacity for improved data collection is assured and will allow for the coordination of various aspects of patient care delivery.

In terms of human resources, the Public Health Ministry continues to provide the opportunity for staff to be trained to work at different levels in the health sector in communities across the country.

The EoY report detailed that more than 50 persons were trained as Community Health Workers (CHW) within the hinterland regions.

This brings the countrywide total number of CHWs to 430, as the government continued its effort to improve access and quality of health services provided to persons in the remotest areas of the country.

While ensuring access, more doctors were deployed to serve in several areas. In 2019, 14 were added to the system in Region 4; six in Region 10; two in Region 5; and one in Region 8.

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