Local Gov’t Ministry commissions $5M health boat in Region Two

A $5 million health boat has been commissioned in Pomeroon River, Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two) to ensure residents in riverine communities have more access to healthcare.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Nigel Dharamlall handed over the boat to the regional administration on Sunday. The Minister told DPI that the presentation was in keeping with the Government’s goal to ensure that all citizens have access to adequate healthcare.

“It is important to enhance logistics in the Pomeroon since we have many villages along the Pomeroon as well as the lower Pomeroon. It is part of the Government’s mandate to get out into communities as much as possible; this includes our doctors, nurses and medical workers into the facilities to care for our citizens.”

The Minister encouraged the Regional Health Department to make full use of the boat to serve residents.

Regional Health Officer, Dr. Ranjeev Singh thanked the Minister for this intervention, noting that it would provide health workers with easy access to far-flung communities.

“I am planning on doing weekly check-ups at the riverine health centres or posts so that doctors can see patients in here, so that they can be treated because, as you know, those residents do not see doctors for a long time. This is either because they cannot even travel or they cannot afford to,” Dr. Singh said.

Minister Dharamlall told the officials that this exercise is one of the many initiatives intended to advance the Region’s development and enhance residents’ quality of life.