Region 10 receives new ambulance, boats, medical supplies

Service delivery in the healthcare sector is expected to improve for Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), after $50 million in medical equipment and a new ambulance was disbursed by the Health Ministry.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony handed over an ambulance, boats and engines, solar refrigerators and other medical supplies over the weekend.

The ambulance will serve residents in Mabura Hill and other surrounding communities while the solar vaccine refrigerators will be distributed to health centres in Malali, Rockstone, Grate Falls, Calcuni, Coomacka, and River View.
According to the Minister, these resources are supplied to fulfil the needs of various institutions.
“Sometimes it is a challenge in terms of how we allocate resources so many times when people are asking us for things, we take it to heart and we work to make sure we can get it. I know for this region, transportation is an issue and last year, we worked with the community of Ituni to make sure they got an ambulance. At the Linden Hospital itself, they were having challenges with ambulances and we were able to give them two ambulances,” Dr Anthony informed.
Similarly, the boats would alleviate transportation shortfalls for riverine communities.

“We know that in the riverine communities, there is a challenge if you have to move people around or sometimes, when they go to a healthcare community to visit, they need transportation. These boats would fulfil that need. Again, where there are gaps, we will work to ensure that over time, we can fill those gaps.”
Another project is ongoing at the Linden Hospital Complex to the tune of $50 million, to install a digital X-ray machine. The Health Minister shared that it is one of the best machines globally, manufactured by a renowned company.
Some 14 such machines are being installed across the country. These machines will eliminate the requirement for patients to take a physical film to medical appointments, and fits into the modernisation plans envisioned by Government.
He noted, “We had to retrofit the room, buy special equipment to make sure that the power is stable and you have the machine itself…When all of it is installed and operational, when you take an X-ray here, they will be able to send it to the Georgetown Hospital where the doctors will be able to analyse it.”
The new X-ray machines can produce high-quality scans, allowing for better interpretation from doctors. Most importantly, the results can be stored on a smartphone.
Meanwhile, a brand-new dental room commissioned at the Vivienne Parris Health Centre in Linden has now expanded primary health care to 6000 residents.
The room was constructed using the $100M allocation by the Guyana Government for 2023. Services provided include teeth extraction, cleaning, filling and root canals.
Dr Anthony zeroed in on the intention of Government towards expanding primary health care by making rehabilitation, ophthalmology and dental services available at various health centres in the region. (G12)