Fort Wellington Hospital gets $97M digital X-ray unit to boost healthcare services

In a bid to improve the level of healthcare being accessed at the Fort Wellington Hospital, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), the Guyana Government has invested in a new digital X-ray unit to the tune of $97 million.
This replaced an outdated analogue machine, which had been used by the Hospital for the last 23 years.
This investment follows a commitment made by President Dr Irfaan Ali earlier in the year to improve the Fort Wellington Hospital’s emergency department, as well as efficiency and reliability when conducting radiography.
During the commissioning ceremony on Monday, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony explained that the piece of modern equipment will eliminate delays and frustration of some 4000 residents who depend on its services.
He added that the quality of imaging will be enhanced significantly and can be uploaded to a server accessible at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by a radiologist.
“What these units do is that the radiation that is emitted is smaller so it doesn’t harm people and that by itself is a very important consideration. And so, with all the new units that we are putting in this is a safety feature that is there because you are exposed to a low dose of radiation but you’re getting a higher quality of image,” Dr. Anthony said.
Meanwhile, the finance minister who also has the portfolio of heading the Public Service Ministry, Dr Ashni Singh during his remarks reiterated the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s commitment to build a world-class healthcare system that will see all Guyanese being able to access better healthcare.
On this note, he disclosed that the government is implementing measures to improve diagnostic capabilities in all ten administrative regions by replacing analog machines.
So far, approximately 15 digital machines have been installed in various health facilities across Guyana.
“We want every single Guyanese citizen irrespective of where they live, we want them to be able to enjoy access to good quality healthcare… a critical access of getting us to that point is to ensure first of all access- building out facilities… today we are building more new and rehabilitating preexisting healthcare facilities than at any other time in our country’s history,” Dr Singh posited.
In addition, World Bank Group’s Representative, Diletta Doretti related that the government’s step to enhance access to healthcare for those in outlying regions. She also sounded the institution’s commitment to continued cooperation to achieve one health in Guyana.