A doctor attached to the C Field Sophia Health Centre, Greater Georgetown, was on Wednesday left in a state of shock after he was attacked by a bandit pretending to be a patient at the medical facility.
The Sophia Health Centre
Reports are at about 14:00h, while he was on his cellphone in the compound of the health centre, the man, pretending to be in pain, walked into the compound and approached the doctor. The thief snatched the cellphone and dashed out of the compound.
Guyana Times was told that persons in the vicinity saw what had occurred and alerted the security guard.
“We didn’t even hear anything because he didn’t scream, is a little while after then some people who saw come and say well the doctor get rob,” a security guard at the health facility informed.
By that time, the suspect had already managed to escape and was nowhere to be found.
This publication spoke with one of the eyewitnesses, who expressed dismay at the incident.
According to the woman, the incident occurred quickly and as such, after realising what had transpired, it was too late for assistance to be given.
“Like up to now, I can’t believe, because the bai [doctor] stand up right here and he just was on his phone and he came in so nobody was like paying attention to him then all of a sudden he just spring up and grab the phone and run out. It happen fast before anybody could react he was long gone,” the woman related. The matter has since been reported and the police are investigating.
In July, an orthopaedic doctor was robbed at gunpoint just outside one of the theatres at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
A female doctor was also robbed between the X-ray area and the laboratory.
The doctor was reportedly robbed by a man dressed as a security guard, who proceeded to drag her into a washroom after she fainted from fright. She was reportedly sent home on one-week sick leave according to sources.
These robberies and many others which occurred at the facility forced the hospital’s administration to place staff on high alert.
The advisory is cautioning the staff to: “Be on the alert at nights when moving around the hospital complex for persons posing as patients in an attempt to rob them of their property.”
“Members of staff should avoid wearing excessive jewellery especially at nights when on duty… Members of staff, especially females, should ensure their cell phones are properly secured in their possession when moving around the hospital complex…staff when moving around the hospital complex at night should do so in company of two or more… staff should avoid walking in the dark and desolate areas when moving in the hospital complex…members should seek assistance of security when in doubt or afraid.”
