Public Health Ministry, RDC #5 to collaborate to improve health services
― staff at Fort Wellington Hospital hear
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, April 6, 2019
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, who accompanied Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence in visits to at least three health facilities in Region 5, has assessed that there needs to be a change in the services delivery in the region.
Visits were made to the Ithaca Health Centre, the Fort Wellington Hospital and the Mahaicony Hospital.
The ministers visited these facilities to get a first-hand view of where the gaps exist and how they can strategically move forward in addressing them. In this regard, Minister Cummings shared the vision of the ministry with regards to health delivery in the regions.
“We want a one-stop shop, where a person can go to a health facility get their labs done, have ultrasounds so that we could effectively diagnose and treat accordingly… we want it to be more than just them coming here, you giving them a tablet and they go, so we want to go a step further,” the minister said.
She was at the time speaking to the staff of the Fort Wellington Hospital.
Minster Cummings outlined what will be expected of them as the system prepares to introduce the necessary changes. She explained that the move is to ensure primary health care facilities are well equipped and poised to provide the necessary services.
“We are correcting and enhancing our facilities and in other cases, we are establishing new ones so that we could take services to the people so we can ensure that the quality of health care service we provide is delivered to them.”
While this take places, hospitals and other health facilities will be equipped to provide specialised services which, in turn, will reduce referrals often made to Georgetown Public Hospital and the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital.
“We want all our health facilities particularly those in the regions to function optimally and I reiterate, that the quality of care offered at our regional health facilities must be of the highest quality and we can reduce or if possible, avoid referrals.”
Minister Cummings assured that the public health ministry is committed to working with the Regional Democratic Council of Region 5, through the Ministry of Communities, to initially address concerns and, in moving forward, to establish much-needed services.
Delicia Haynes.
Images: Keno George.