Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings conducted a site visit at the Leonora Treatment and Diagnostic Centre on Friday, to ensure the facility is ready for reopening on Monday.
The health centre’s compound was submerged under at least 14 inches of water after high tides overtopped the seawall in some areas along the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) on March 2. This caused its temporary closure and relocation of services to the Den Amstel Health Centre, also known as the Mildred Cox-Younge Health Centre and the Guyana Sugar Company’s (GuySuCo) Dispensary at the Uitvlugt Community Centre.
The cleaned Leonora Treatment and Diagnostic Centre
According to Assistant Administrator of the Leonora Treatment and Diagnostic Centre, Kathleen Armstrong, ongoing works to repair the floors, evaluate the electrical equipment and appliances will be completed in time for the hospital’s staff to return and begin serving the members of the public on Monday.
“At the pace that we are going to restore the functionality of the centre, it will surely be soon than later. The staff will be bringing back the equipment and appliances from Den Amstel Centre throughout the weekend and set it up to ensure that things go back normal,” Armstrong said.
It was also highlighted by the assistant administrator that the hospital has limitations providing X-ray services since the machine is due for repairs.
Minister Cummings stressed that the Ministry will be looking into providing the hospital with an X-ray machine as soon as possible. She also noted that the regional administration needs play its part in assisting to improve the facility’s services.
Responding to the inquiry about safety measures to be taken by the hospital, should there be another occurrence of high tides, Armstrong explained that there will be drainage to provide relief to prevent flooding of the facility.
