Both the young and old accessing services at the De Kendren Health Centre on the West Coast of Demerara have been left to suffer, as the nurses and doctor there have refused to provide services because of the lack of proper sanitary facilities to effectively execute their functions.
The elderly patients who seek care at the medical facility were seen wandering in the health centre’s compound, as doctors and nurses refused to perform their duties under the deplorable conditions that they are subjected.
According to reports that the Guyana Times received, in order for care to be provided to the patients, nurses would be forced to fetch water from aback the facility’s yard, which has not been cleaned for months and is as such “high with
One of the pipes being used by the medical personnel
grass,”
Nurse Nikita Johnson of the facility relayed that after being kind and going beyond and above the call of duty to carry out her daily duties, she has had enough.
The angry nurse decried the hardships that have to be endured at her place of work, explaining, “Out of the kindness of my heart, I go at the back to climb up on a trestle to turn on a pipe to get some water. When that tank is empty, we have no water. The clinic attendant, she usually does it, because she has to wipe and clean, and it is very unfair to her to be putting on long boots to go where snakes and all different things can attack her. And I said to myself that I am not doing it anymore! When it comes to the washroom, you gotta take a bucket and throw in water over the urine and faeces and what not, and that is insanitary!” Nurse Johnson declared.
In addition to the water woes, the pharmacist of the centre is decrying a medication shortage, which has been on-going for a lengthy period.
Pharmacist Jennifer Thompson relayed that, on many occasions and as a result of the shortage, she is forced to use her own money to purchase drugs for patients at the centre.
“We do not get the amount of drugs, and our clinic people are using the drugs. I am working at another place, and sometimes I have to bring drugs from that end to give my patients. Sometimes I have to take my own money, especially to buy the types of medication needed the most here,” she explained.
“When you go to uplift drugs, they have your book long, and when you do get the drugs, it is just a few things” Thompson complained.
Ramnauth (only name given), a diabetic and pensioner, revealed that since last year he was unable to receive treatment for his illness.
According to the ailing man, October last was the last time he had received Insulin for his illness, and this he considered hard because, “I am a pensioner and I have to be using my lil pension money to buy insulin, because without that we can’t survive”.
Regional Councillor for De Kendren, Culbert Leandor, revealed that the issue facing the medical facility are ongoing.
“This is an ongoing problem, because they always call me and I always come over to check on this health centre. I keep calling for help to have this yard weeded. We have no running water. When I come over here I see nurses fetching water with mosquitoes and everything inside, just to get to carry out their duties, so I reported it. Patients coming here, no tablets, I keep calling and informing the RHO, so he knows”.
While at the facility, the Councillor again attempted to make contact with the region’s Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr Niaal Utman, which proved futile.
This newspaper’s attempts to contract regional officials on the matter also proved futile. (Kizzy Coleman)
