Over $20M in equipment damaged in suspected arson at GPHC

Over $20 million in equipment has been damaged after fire suspected to be an act of arson damaged the echocardiography laboratory at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

This is according to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, who visited the scene following the fire which occurred at about 05:24h on New Year’s Day.
A report from the Fire Service stated that water tenders from the Central, Campbellville and Alberttown Fire Stations in Georgetown were immediately dispatched to the New Market Street, North Cummingsburg location.
The fire occurred in the echocardiograph room, which is located on the first floor of the GPHC and the entire room was severely damaged. The fire was contained and the blaze was prevented from spreading to other parts of the hospital.
At the time of the fire there were at least 11 patients in the vicinity – seven in the cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and four in another ICU. They were all evacuated to safety.
The Guyana Fire Service along with the Guyana Police Force are presently conducting investigations to determine what caused the fire.
Last year January, a male patient, reportedly set the Psychiatric Ward of the GPHC on fire, but the blaze was quickly extinguished and all patients were evacuated before the GFS arrived on the scene.
The fire started in the Psychiatric Ward, housed on the ground floor of the three-storey Medical Block, located at the junction of Thomas and New Market Streets.
There was no structural damage to the building, only minor damage to the interior of the ground floor of the building.