Puruni Health Post commissioned
−To focus on preventative over curative health measures
−To capture Malaria cases, pregnant mothers
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, February 13, 2020
A $11.2M health post at Puruni in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region was recently commissioned.
The establishment of this health post will ensure that emphasis will be placed on vector control related services and preventative measures, other areas such as maternal and child health services will also be available.
A Medex and Community Health worker will manage the facility while a doctor will regularly visit the conduct clinics.
At the commissioning on Thursday, Minister of Health Hon. Volda Lawrence noted that while there are curative measures and treatment methods for illnesses, the primary focus is to promote the idea of “prevention is better than cure.”
“Even as we open this health post and provide you with the necessary services, we ask that you be involved in your own well-being and to know how you treat your body. We are promoting illness or disease prevention so this means you should take your health seriously. do not throw caution to the wind,” she said.
Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford noted that the establishment of the Puruni Health Post is “a promise kept, a promise delivered. It was made possible through a community partnership and those who say that this government has failed to deliver are wrong.”
While the Puruni health post will be the focal point for the delivery of health services persons in mining camps and neighbouring villages can also access the services. Bradford added that the construction of a doctor’s quarters will be catered for in the next regional budget, allowing for a resident doctor to be stationed at the health post.
Puruni is a mining community located some distance from the township of Bartica. It is also known to be one of the villages in the region from which the highest numbers of malaria cases are recorded.
The establishment of this health post will ensure that emphasis is placed on Malaria prevention by ensuring persons learn of how they can protect themselves against the incapacitating illness. The target population is between 5000-7000 persons.
Also, in attendance at the commissioning were Permanent Secretary Colette Adams, Deputy Permanent Secretary Shellon Bess, Director of Regional and Clinical Health Services, Dr. Kay Shako and Ministerial advisors John Adams and Caroline Hicks from the Ministry of Public Health along with Regional Health Officer, Dr. Edward Sagala, Regional Executive Officer Kerwin Ward and Bartica’s Mayor, His Worship Gifford Marshall.