In a major step toward transforming healthcare delivery in Guyana’s hinterland, the Ministry of Health, led by Minister Dr Frank Anthony, officially commissioned the new Annai District Hospital in the Upper Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Friday.
The new hospital, built at a cost of $236 million, is fully equipped and staffed to offer a wide range of medical services. These include outpatient care, inpatient services, accident and emergency treatment, maternal and child health services, non-communicable disease (NCD) management, laboratory and diagnostic testing, pharmacy services, general surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, dental care, and radiology services such as X-ray and ultrasound.
Speaking at a vibrant community ceremony, Dr Anthony celebrated the achievement and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare across the country.
“Today is a day of celebration. What began as a modest health centre has now evolved into a full-fledged district hospital—equipped with a state-of-the-art surgical theatre, enhanced laboratory services, advanced imaging technologies, and modern staff accommodations,” Dr Anthony said.
The commissioning of the Annai Hospital forms part of a wider $450 million regional initiative to strengthen healthcare infrastructure throughout Region Nine. As part of this transformation, four fully equipped ambulances, valued at $18 million each, were also handed over to the region to enhance emergency medical response. The ambulances will serve the communities of Annai, Karasabai, Sand Creek, and Yupukari, and are specially designed to navigate the hinterland’s challenging terrain.
In addition to improved transportation for patients, residents will now benefit from advanced diagnostic tools. The Lethem Regional Hospital has been equipped with a brand-new digital X-ray system and a state-of-the-art Siemens mammogram machine, acquired at a cost of $43 million. The mammography unit, renowned for its exceptional depth resolution and diagnostic accuracy, significantly boosts the hospital’s capacity for early breast cancer detection — a major public health advancement, given that breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Guyana.
Previously, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was the only public health facility offering mammography services. With this addition, residents now have improved access to early breast cancer detection, reducing the need to travel long distances for screenings.
To date, the Health Minister has commissioned similar machines at the Linden Hospital Complex in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and the Public Hospital Suddie in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
Looking to the future, Minister Anthony emphasised that the Government’s healthcare agenda goes beyond infrastructure. He encouraged residents to participate in the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, recently expanded to include women up to the age of 45, aiming to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer across Guyana.
