GPHC not ready to handle influx of COVID-19 cases – Dr Jeffrey

COVID-19 has taken a toll on the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and according to the Director of Medical and Professional Services at the institution, Dr Fawcett Jeffrey, the hospital can become overwhelmed with the rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Guyana.

Dr Jeffrey told the media that the number of beds at the GPHC might not be enough. He explained that such a challenge in terms of critical equipment was not unique.
“It is a worldwide challenge, and the worst thing is that developed countries are having problems with ventilators. You cannot access a ventilator easily. There is a challenge accessing PPEs [Personal Protective Equipment], N95 masks, gloves…,” he noted.
The Director further said that the outbreak of the coronavirus has made it hard for GPHC’s medical staff.
“We being human beings always have fear for the unknown, so the fear for the unknown has created a lot of panic in the institution, and it has created distancing for the patients sometimes,” he explained.
Dr Jeffrey added that the GPHC has taken up the mantle to continuously educate its staff on COVID-19.
He said: “When we find these circumstances, we would reach out to persons and try to educate them. It is not very easy, because people have a mindset of their own. It takes much more effort.”
Dr Jeffrey further noted that the city hospital has managed to reduce the number of patients that would visit the institution regularly.
“Our numbers have dropped to 1/10th to what we were seeing before and that has assisted,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the caretaker coalition Administration has refurbished the Ocean View Hotel as a quarantine facility.
However, the Public Health Ministry has chosen to cordon off a section of the Georgetown Public Hospital to serve as a quarantine site despite much criticism. Nevertheless, as cases continue to increase, other regional hospitals will be identified to be used.
Now that Guyana has been hit with the deadly novel coronavirus, the National COVID-19 Task Force is making haste to put systems in place. The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and National Gymnasium were cited as other possible quarantine sites.
Authorities are seeking to have 1000 beds available to accommodate persons in need of isolation, even though the Pan American Health Organisation predicts that the cases may climb to some 20,000.