De Kinderen Regional Hospital redefines community healthcare

Residents of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) are now accessing world-class medical services much closer to home, thanks to the newly commissioned De Kinderen Regional Hospital, located on the West Coast Demerara (WCD). Since its launch, the hospital has already transformed healthcare delivery across the region. The development was highlighted during the Ministry of Health’s “Health Matters” television programme, where Dr Fiaaz Hassan, Medical Superintendent and General Surgeon at the hospital, detailed the facility’s state-of-the-art design and expanding range of services. “Region Three has long waited for a facility like the De Kinderen Regional Hospital,” Dr Hassan said on the programme. “It’s one of the most modern infrastructures, and the excitement among healthcare staff and patients is something you can see and feel.”
Strategically located in one of the region’s most populated sub-districts, the hospital serves not only residents on the mainland but also riverine and island communities, including Wakenaam. According to Dr Hassan, the site was carefully selected. “It was well chosen by the Government to make advanced healthcare easier to access for residents of the main islands and nearby communities,” he explained. The hospital’s modern layout enhances efficiency and patient safety. The emergency department sits adjacent to the outpatient department, ensuring quick triage and immediate treatment for critical cases. “There’s a critical bay inside the emergency room, and right next to it is an operating theatre,” Dr Hassan said. “So, a trauma or heart attack patient can be stabilised and moved directly into surgery within minutes.” Upstairs, there are two additional operating theatres, one adjoining the maternity suite for emergency caesarean sections. The hospital also houses a modern Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the first of its kind in Region Three.
The new facility offers services previously unavailable in the region’s public healthcare system, including 24-hour CT scans, digital dental x-rays, ultrasound services, and, soon, dialysis. “This is a significant improvement to healthcare in Region Three,” Dr Hassan said. “Transporting critical patients to Georgetown was always risky. Now, those services are available right here, free for all Guyanese and even non-Guyanese residents or visitors.”
Patients are also benefiting from a digital database system, which streamlines appointments and patient flow. “We moved from calling out names in waiting areas to a modern system where patients see their names on screens and hear them announced,” Dr Hassan noted. Since its opening six weeks ago, the hospital has seen a surge in patients – averaging 130 daily in outpatient services and 50 to 60 in the emergency department. “We’ve reached capacity quickly, but we’ve still managed to provide 24-hour service,” Dr Hassan said. “The cleanliness, semi-private wards, and comfort have made a huge difference.”
Training is another key focus. The hospital plans to conduct continuous on-site training and accredited courses in basic and advanced life support, trauma care, and paediatric emergency management for both doctors and nurses.
The “Health Matters” programme also highlighted several national initiatives aimed at improving preventive care. These include the Cervical Cancer Screening Voucher Programme for women aged 21 to 65, valued at $8000; the Eye Testing and Spectacles Programme for children and seniors; and the Universal Health Voucher, valued at $10,000, which offers early screening for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Dr Hassan encouraged citizens to make use of these free services and adopt regular health check-ups. “See a doctor first and get professional advice. Not because these services are free means you can just walk in and get it done – it should be medically indicated,” he advised.
In closing, Dr Hassan expressed gratitude to the Government for its ongoing investment in healthcare modernisation. “We must thank the President and the Ministry of Health for decentralising tertiary healthcare and continuing to advance healthcare in Guyana,” he said. The De Kinderen Regional Hospital stands as part of the Government’s wider plan to strengthen regional healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that residents across Guyana, from the coast to the hinterland, have access to the same level of quality medical care.