Outpatient facility commissioned at Port Mourant Hospital

Toalleviate extended waiting time for patients at the Port Mourant Hospital, Region Six, an outpatient facility valued over $40 million was on April 13, 2023 commissioned in the hospital’s compound.

The government’s investment will have a significant impact on expanding access to healthcare in the region.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony noted that the facility forms part of the government’s aim to ensure that Guyanese receive the best possible care in a timely manner. “Any patient that requires outpatient services can come here and get those services. So, whether it is chronic patients, diabetic, hypertensive, and so forth, who have been coming over a protracted period, they can come here and get those services…As we open this facility, this is just symbol - ic of many more things that are going to happen in the region and country,” Dr. Anthony stated.

The government has invested heavily in the region to ensure equitable access to healthcare services is provided.

Significant work was conducted at the Ophthalmology hospital over the last couple of years for the facility to function effectively.

Dr. Anthony also urged persons to take advantage of the training programmes that the ministry offers, which will help to improve their knowledge and skills in the field.

Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Vishalya Sharma highlighted that the department will enable the hospital to better capture data to guide regional policies and allocation of resources. “Region Six would have seen a total of 48,760 patients in 2020. Two years after we are seeing 82,637 in patient contacts. This is a 100 per cent increase in two years just in medical outpatient services…Of that total that we see, as of 2022, 21,346 came from this very facility for patient contact…This facility will provide a better environment for patients and the doctors,” Dr. Sharma emphasised.

Administrator of the Port Mourant Hospital, Dr. Ghanshaam Sukhdeo, while sharing similar sentiments expressed, “Now we will have a separate and an independent department where patients don’t have to wait on the doctors while attending to an emergency in the A&E. But the doctor will be there on the grounds.”

With the expansion of training in the region, the upstairs of the facility will be utilised as a regional training centre.

New NTC Secretariat to be commissioned soon

The new building being constructed at the Sophia Exhibition Centre to house the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) Secretariat will be completed before the end of May 2023.

This was confirmed by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, during a recent press conference hosted at the ministry’s Georgetown office.

It was noted that inclement weather had stalled the completion, but with the weather’s improvement, the facility is expected to be completed and commissioned shortly.

“At this point, the building is completed. The building consists of an administrative section, and a dome, which the NTC will use to host their meetings and so on. So, that is completed. What we are doing now is the works in the yard… Casting will be done over the course of the weekend. We’re looking at next week, for the project to be wrapped up,” Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ryan Toolsiram stated.

He said the building will have accommodation for Toshaos travelling for