New chest clinic at Port Mourant Hospital commissioned

As Guyana joined the rest of the world in observing World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) commissioned a new chest clinic at the Port Mourant Hospital.

World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24.
The new clinic is part of the National Tuberculosis Programme. The building and furnishings for the new clinic cost $4.8 million under the 2021 National Budget.
The clinic is the third such in the region with similar clinics at the Skeldon and New Amsterdam Hospitals. Currently, there are 20 such clinics across the country.
Tuberculosis, commonly called TB, is considered a very deadly disease with more than 4000 persons losing their lives to the disease and some 28,000 to 30,000 becoming infected on a daily basis worldwide.
Since the year 2000, 58 million people worldwide have lost their lives to the disease.
At present, Region Six has 36 active cases of TB.
Regional Health Officer, Dr Vishalya Sharma at the commissioning of the building said that the TB cases in the region were worrying, because five weeks ago, the regional figure stood at eight.
Dr Sharma noted that these figures were important to take notice of since Guyana, like the rest of the world, is battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is important that we place emphasis not just on the COVID-19 pandemic but all other infectious diseases. The outcome of this COVID with TB is anticipated to be worst for those persons with underlying conditions. Region Six also, as of today, we have 45 active cases of COVID,” Dr Sharma said.
Dr Sharma added that the Regional Health Service was committed to working along with the National Tuberculosis Programme.
Globally, there is a successful treatment rate of over 70 per cent. However, in Region Six, the successful treatment rate is below 70 per cent.
Meanwhile, Head of the National Tuberculosis Programme, Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall explained that the Port Mourant clinic was the third of its kind in the region and the 20th in the country.
He further explained that like the clinics at New Amsterdam and Skeldon, the Port Mourant facility would also cater for persons with other lung infections.
“This clinic was in the making for a number of years,” he said at the simple commissioning ceremony.
World Tuberculosis Day is observed annually on the anniversary of the date the disease was discovered. (G4)