7 boats deployed to boost healthcare access in Region 1

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, on Tuesday handed over seven boats equipped with 40-horsepower engines to improve healthcare delivery in Region One (Barima-Waini).
The vessels were delivered during an engagement with Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley and officials from the Regional Health Department.

The boats will serve riverine and remote communities, including Red Hill, Blackwater, Savannah, areas along the Waini River, and locations within the Barama and Moruca sub-regions. These communities have faced ongoing challenges accessing healthcare due to distance and transportation constraints.
According to the ministry, the vessels will support a range of services such as mobile vaccination programmes for children, school health initiatives, monitoring of chronic diseases, and home visits for bedridden and vulnerable patients.
They will also assist in maternal healthcare by transporting expectant mothers to the Maternal Waiting Home in Mabaruma, where they can access care from trained healthcare professionals ahead of delivery.
Dr Anthony said the geography of Region One makes river transport critical to healthcare delivery. He noted that the boats will strengthen emergency response and improve the consistency of primary healthcare services.
“This is about bringing healthcare closer to the people,” he said, adding that the initiative aligns with the government’s goal of ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare.
Ashley stated that the initiative responds to concerns raised by residents about the high cost and difficulty of travelling long distances, sometimes exceeding 90 miles, to access medical care. He said the boats are expected to reduce that burden and improve timely access to services.