…statistics show maternal deaths on decline – Dr Anthony
Three maternal deaths have been recorded for the year so far, according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony in the National Assembly on Monday, continuing a trend of reduced mortality rates among expectant mothers under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government.
During the sitting of the National Assembly, the minister was quizzed on Guyana’s maternal death rates. He revealed that three maternal deaths occurred so far this year, including at the Port Mourant in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Charity in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), and Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
Providing more information on the three maternal deaths this year, the minister explained that one of the patients died as a result of a ruptured artery, another patient suffered from cardiogenic shock, while the other had severe anemia which resulted in a number of complications including sepsis and multiorgan failure.
“This is one of the reasons why mothers would die during pregnancy. And there’s a 17, 18 per cent chance that this can happen. This is not the system failing. The system has actually improved to respond to these types of emergencies,” Dr. Anthony explained.
Opposition Parliamentarian Dr Karen Cummings – a former minister of health under the APNU/AFC administration – was seeking answers in relation to maternal deaths at the New Amsterdam and Suddie Hospitals.
Anthony pointed out that there were no maternal deaths recorded at those facilities for the year. The Minister did, however, give stats to show that maternal deaths have steadily fallen since the PPP/C’s return to office.
“It would be good to note that when we review obstetric deaths, from 2018 we had about 20, 2019, 23; and in 2022 we had 17; 2023, we had 17; 2024, we had 14. So, we’ve seen a decline in these deaths,” the minister explained.
According to Anthony, there are two categories of deaths deemed as maternal deaths; direct obstetrics death or indirect obstetrics death. He was also confident that in the years to come, this rate would drop even further.
“It is going to improve further. Not only are we training more people, we are giving them the equipment that they need and we are providing better conditions for them to work,” the minister said.
Healthcare infrastructure
Since 2020, the President Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration has invested billions of dollars to build the healthcare infrastructure across the country. The most recent is the new West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), which is being constructed to the tune of more than $11.4 billion, and will be completed in 2028.
The government is also currently constructing a $31.9 billion state-of-the-art Paediatric and Maternal Hospital in Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD), which will revolutionise healthcare in Guyana has been completed.
The hospital is being built by VAMED Engineering, which has implemented more than 1,000 projects across the globe, and provided high-end services for more than 820 health facilities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The government has been exploring international partnerships to revolutionize healthcare in Guyana. For instance, the government has had discussions with Northwell, on improving the emergency healthcare in the country. Northwell Health is a non-profit integrated healthcare service that is considered New York’s largest healthcare provider.
In addition to Northwell, the PPP/C Government has also been collaborating with the United States (US)-based Mount Sinai Health System. With their support, Guyana will commence work this year to establish a modern oncology centre here to enhance cancer treatment and care.
The Guyana Government has also been enhancing its telemedicine initiative, to transform it into a world-class system integrated with international healthcare providers. The move forms part of the Government’s holistic efforts to modernise the healthcare sector through technology.
Currently, 84 telemedicine sites are in operation, particularly in hinterland communities. These sites are equipped with audio and video technology and integrated medical devices that enable clinicians to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients remotely.
