National Ophthalmology Hospital is in crisis

Dear Editor
The Government has the power to ensure Guyanese pay taxes, but, in return, it must ensure quality services are delivered to the Guyanese people.
Definitely, this is not the policy of this APNU/AFC coalition Government. Recently, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence visited the National Ophthalmology Hospital in Region Six and announced the re-opening of this important national hospital, it was later confirmed — when the Director of Health Services announced at the April statutory Regional Democratic Council meeting — that in the next two weeks, the National Ophthalmology Hospital would be reopened for cataract surgeries to the public.
This was welcome news for thousands of poor Guyanese who are awaiting cataract surgeries over two years now. Unfortunately, to date, the National Ophthalmology Hospital has been unable to commence cataract surgeries.
This was confirmed when a senior Government official called the doctors, who said that only screening of patients is been carried out, not surgeries. Definitely, persons who are awaiting services from this National Ophthalmology Hospital might either become blind or may have to pay privately at an exorbitant price to get their surgeries done, all because of the incompetence of the Minister of Public Health, the Director of Health Services, and the APNU/AFC coalition Government’s incompetence to ensure that the much needed medical supplies were procured to fix this crisis.
We have seen that shortages of the drugs and medical supplies continue to be a national issue, and cannot be fixed because the APNU/AFC coalition Government favour certain suppliers because of huge kickbacks.
Public officials who mislead the public should be held accountable with disciplinary actions. Billions of taxpayers’ monies are being spent to ensure ministers and public officials enjoy the good life, while the poor and vulnerable continue to suffer.
As a representative of the people of Region Six, I urge Guyanese to demand that this National Ophthalmology Hospital be fixed immediately to avert a national crisis.

Sincerely
Zamal Hussain
Chairman
Regional Health
Committee
Region Six