Repeated robberies forced Govt to shut down facility – Norton

Sophia residents are being asked to seek medical attention at neighbouring health centres, following an attempted robbery on Wednesday at the Sophia Health Centre, Public Health Minister Dr George Norton said.

Norton stated that on Wednesday, a man armed with a firearm went into the health centre and attempted to rob the employees and persons inside. He said that the decision to close the health centre was made because the lives of the workers and patients were in danger.

“This has happened before and we made every effort to ensure that security is better but people are still being robbed,” he disclosed, noting that the doctor in charge at the health centre had contacted the ministry and informed them of the recent incident.

“After we heard of the incident it was advised that the staff be dispatched to another location. So we are asking the residents to seek healthcare in nearby health centres,” he said.

Guyana Times was informed that at about 11:00h on Wednesday, a man went into the facility and made enquiries from a staff about the centre and whether they had surveillance cameras. This caused the nurses to become suspicious of the individual, who was subsequently seen removing a firearm from his pocket and placing it into a bag he was carrying.

In October 2015, the health centre was robbed by two armed gunmen who pretended they needed medical attention.

According to a resident in the area, the staff at the centre is in constant fear that the facility could be robbed at any time since there is no security.

The woman stated that although the closure of the facility would bring inconvenience, it was in the best interest of the staff and residents.