Region 2 health-care system worries Chairman

Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt, is very concerned about what he describes as the poor state of the regional health-care system.
According to Ramdatt, basic medications are not available at hospitals and health centres in the region. He is contending that the $40.9 million state-of-the-art operating theatre being constructed at the Suddie Public Hospital is way behind schedule, and this is costing tax payers millions of dollars to transport patients to the public hospital in Georgetown for surgery and other health services.
Additionally, the chairman is contending that the doctor’s living quarters constructed at Wakapao has been completed in 2017 but still cannot be utilised.
“We are now going into 2019, and for (lack of) simple furnishing, the resident doctor cannot occupy the building, and (has) to travel for miles each day at her own expense… Also, ‘Lady J’ Mobile Dental Boat Service, which was built to service the people in the riverine areas, is not working.”
He explained that due to technical problems the boat is not functioning, but said that while a public-spirited citizen had offered to help resolve the technical problem, the Regional Health Officer (RHO) and the Regional Executive Officer (REO) are yet to put systems in place to have the dental service resume.
Minor issues have caused two of the region’s ambulances to be not working, Ramdatt added. He said Essequibians are losing faith in the regional health care system, and he feels this is because of poor management. He added that if projects are monitored and completed in a timely manner, the situation would improve.
According to Chairman Ramdatt, Region Two has millions in savings, which can be used to resolve issues in the health care system, but priority is given to parks, gated communities, planting of palm trees along the entire Essequibo Coast Public Road, and flower gardens among other non-priority matters.