Surgical wards, ICU on stream for Mahaicony Hospital

─ to complement services of refurbished surgical theatres

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, April 10, 2019

The Regional Health Department in Region 5, Mahaica-Berbice is moving to construct male and female surgical wards along with an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which was deemed critical since there is none in the region.

This will be done in time for the re-introduction of surgical services at the hospital which will be conducted in two refurbished state-of-the-art theatres. The Male and Female Surgical wards and the ICU will each have three beds.

The Mahaicony Hospital.

Regional Health Officer, Dr. Desmond Nicholson briefs team from Ministry of Public Health including ministers on progress regarding the reintroduction of surgical services at the Mahaicony Hospital.

These plans were highlighted by Regional Health Officer, Region 5, Dr. Desmond Nicholson, who remarked that initially funds were allocated for maintenance of the hospital. However, the savings from this allocation will accommodate the construction of the wards.

The Regional Executive Officer of the region was made aware of the need for the wards and was consulted on plans; thereafter, a decision was made. Dr. Nicholson said a review was done in January 2019, and the urgent need for these three units was noted.

“Initially it was envisaged that we would have done minor operations here at the Mahaicony Hospital, however, because of the fact that we have state-of-the-art theatres which have been outfitted and which will continue to be outfitted with all of the surgical equipment necessary to perform general surgeries, C- section among others.”

He further clarified that the ICU is a crucial establishment since emergency cases will be admitted along with cases requiring major surgeries which can all be done at Mahaicony.  According to the RHO, the construction of the two wards and the ICU is the beginning of several measures to be taken at the Mahaicony Hospital.

“It is fitting that we go a step further and that we do not regress in our progress… We hope that next year we are able to acquire more funds to extend those wards to increase the bed capacity perhaps by building upwards,” the RHO concluded.

Delicia Haynes.

Images: Keno George.