“Running down the healthcare system should stop” – Focal Point Coordinator of Public Health Ministry

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ZWKpMjjrE” width=”100%” height=”315″]

─ criticisms should not come without alternatives

DPI, Guyana, Monday, April 8, 2019

Even as the health sector in Region 6, East Berbice-Corentyne makes strides to improve, there are still critics who discourage others from accessing free, quality health care.

This was noted by the Ministry of Public Health’s Focal Point Coordinator, Region Six, Alex Foster who bemoaned the actions of those who spend time peddling negatives.

To this end, he declared that instead of just criticising, these people should provide actual solutions that will assist the regional administration in correcting and addressing challenges which may exist.

He explained that the public health system is designed to meet the needs of those who cannot afford services at a private institution. As such, persons must be free to access these services without the hindrance of political persuasion or otherwise.

“When they criticise the system all they do is to scare away the poor and the needy from the facility to get a service that they may need. And strangely, when they criticise the system, they do not offer one alternative to those persons as to where to go… Time for running down the system should stop and every honest Guyanese that walks through the door of our institutions and receives quality healthcare should speak up and quiet all of those who spend their time seeking to divide, destroy and create confusion.”

It was further noted that since the effort is made to turn people away from the health institutions, the same persons spearheading this should take the financial responsibility to ensure care is provided to these persons. However, he noted, this is least likely to happen.

He referred to a report, produced by Doctor in Charge of the Port Mourant Hospital, Dr. Devendra Radhay, which states that more persons are accessing public health care despite negativities being peddled.

Foster took the opportunity to make these statements as he accompanied Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence and Minister within the ministry, Dr. Karen Cummings and team to recommission the National Ophthalmology Hospital and commission the x-ray department of the Port Mourant Hospital.

While this took place, at least two persons of the regional health committee were not present at any of the commissioning activities but were picketing with others in front of the Ophthalmology Hospital.

He noted that these persons along with other officials in the region (whether government or non-government) were invited to activities like these in addition to other activities geared at discussing the way forward in improving the regional system, however they still choose to continually criticise by boycotting or picketing.

“Some people want to build a career on the backs of innocent workers. I see staff standing up on the road, waiting for transportation to go home, leaving their children at home, coming to give service and do work that none of them who criticise us will do, none of us will do. If you want to chase people out of the system, we must have the ability and capacity to replace them.”

Delicia Haynes.

Image: Keno George.