Integrated health service delivery network launched to mend fragmentation in healthcare system
DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, August 3, 2017
The Integrated Health Service Delivery Network was today launched in Mabaruma, Region One to help mend the fragmentation in Guyana’s health care system. The launch saw the opening of a two-day workshop for nurses, medexes, Community Development Councillors, chairpersons and regional health officials.
HSS Advisor, PAHO/WHO, Dr. Paul Edwards (right) and Director of Regional Health Services, Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Kay Shako.
The workshop is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Public Health, the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). The objectives include assisting midwives to appreciate the need for integrated health services, understanding the domains and essential attributes of IHSDN and creating a plan of action for developing IHSDN.
Director of Regional Health Services Dr. Kay Shako delivering the feature address emphasised that the IHSDN is the tool that will bridge the gap between deficiencies in the health care delivery system. She revealed that the system is fragmented because the healthcare systems are separated into several classes which include primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services.
“We do not want fragmented services because fragmentation in conjunction with other factors can lead to difficulty, poor access of healthcare services, services that are irrational, utilizes our resources wildly,” Dr. Shako explained.
She also noted that the IHSDN will bring everything under one roof so that patients can have holistic healthcare services. It will allow everyone to participate and have an input on how the healthcare system can provide better services to the people.
“So, what we have to do as healthcare providers is to implement what is best for the patient and not what is best for us as healthcare providers. We need to move forward with the integrated health service delivery network and have… the services such as prevention, treatment, diagnosis, disease management, rehabilitation…occurring at different levels of the healthcare system” Dr. Shako emphasised.
Regional Chairman of Region One, Brentnol Ashley briefly remarked on the importance of understanding that improved
Regional Chairman, Region One, Brentnol Ashley.
healthcare service, must be the responsibility of everyone and not just that of health officials.
“As leaders, we have the common responsibility to set positive examples to guide our people in a direction that will bring the kind of result that will foster regional development”
The Regional Chairman disclosed that representation has been made for persons to be trained as community health workers in Region One in 2018. The Regional Democratic Council is the process of putting together the budget for the region and the cost factor for such training has already been outlined.
He stated that, “So no more must we have community health centres, health huts or health posts manned by one person. We would like to see at the RDC and at central government that we provide for the needs of the people in the health sector”.
Participants of the Integrated Health Service Delivery Network workshop.
Health Systems and Services (HSS) Advisor to PAHO/WHO Dr. Paul Edwards speaking the workshop highlighted that the IHSDN encompasses the idea of patients, health official and organisation all coming together for a better healthcare service.
Dr. Edwards stated that, “we should be able to have the highest resolution capacity, meaning that all resources whether human, equipment, whether financial to be able to resolve most cases… if you are able to do that persons can be taken care of right here instead of going to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).”
He urged the participants to make the most of the two-day workshop emphasising that when it comes to an end, they must be able to provide quality healthcare services to their patients.
By: Isaiah Braithwaite