Sophia Health Centre closes as crime wave escalates

Amid a rampant crime wave, the Public Health Ministry has decided to close the Sophia Health Centre until further notice, after the staff there were given a scare on Wednesday.

Guyana Times was informed that around 11:00h on Wednesday, a young man went into the facility and made enquiries from a staff member 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.

The incident has left many staff members traumatised. A report was made to the Public Health Ministry and a decision was made to close the facility.  In October 2015, the health centre was robbed by two armed gunmen who pretended they were in need of medical attention.

The two men entered the health centre claiming that they were in need of urgent medical attention and stormed into a room where the nurse was attending to a patient. They then held them at gunpoint.

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.