Infrastructural works to begin soon at West-Dem Hospital

The much-needed improvement that the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) needs will soon commence. This is according to Region Three Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikaran.
Speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Jaikaran said the plan is to expand and improve the various departments in the health facility. The REO noted that though the image of the hospital has been comprised due to past incidents, he is optimistic that the initiative will help to improve its image.

“Things are going to be well for 2018 in the region, more specifically the healthcare services. We have been engaging with the Indian Government about providing enhancement to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where it is needed the most,” he explained.
The REO highlighted the visit by Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, in 2017, which served as an impetus for the administration to push forward with the initiative.
Jaikaran said that at that meeting, the challenges facing the health institution, such as a lack of human resources, proper equipment maintenance, and drug procurement, were highlighted among the department heads and the Minister. The administration has since begun to address and rectify these issues, the REO noted.
Of the $1.270 billion approved within the 2018 National Budget for the current expenditure of the region’s Health Services programme, $379.65 million was allocated for the purchase of drugs and medical supplies, whilst $42 million was set aside for the maintenance of buildings.
Last year, Finance Minister Winston Jordan signed a US$17.5 million line of credit with the Export/Import (EXIM) Bank of India to upgrade primary health care facilities. It is said that the funds are set to be used for the refurbishing of existing facilities and the construction of new buildings at the Suddie Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), West Demerara Regional Hospital, and the Bartica District Hospital in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). It will also be used to procure medical equipment to furnish the new and renovated facilities.