The $6.6 billion Diamond Regional Hospital on Sunday became the first of six regional hospitals being completed this year to open its doors, making good on the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s drive to revolutionise healthcare in Guyana.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
The hospital, which was built by China CAMC Engineering Company, and overseen by VIKAB Engineering, is fully equipped with CT scans, several Intensive Care Units (ICU), including a neonatal ICU for babies; three modern surgery theatres, including one in the emergency department; a high dependency unit; several outpatient clinics, and 75 patient beds with five beds in each room; digital X-rays, and ultrasound machines.
In his feature address, President Dr Irfaan Ali stressed that the Diamond Regional Hospital is only the first phase in the PPP/C’s investment into the citizens and their life expectancy. He made it clear that Guyana’s healthcare sector will one day be a “global masterpiece”, and will make Guyana a health hub.
Further, the Head of State emphasised that citizens must be able to get healthcare on par with private hospitals, even at the public institutions. As a consequence, the Diamond Hospital will be similar in scope and international standard to the remaining five hospitals to be launched this year.
Scenes from within the newly commissioned Diamond hospital
“We are already advancing the next phase of the transformation. You saw drone delivery of medicines and medical supplies. We have a clearly defined strategy that will take us to 2030 and beyond. A strategy that would set our health sector as a global masterpiece. Offering world-class services, but more importantly, a health sector that would continue to incentivise private investment,” the President said.
“Because we want Guyana to be a major health hub. Health care and health services must be able to provide economic opportunities. Because health and the eco-system that surrounds it is important also. Whilst we want to encourage private investment, we want to ensure that the Government invests simultaneously in equivalent care, so every Guyanese can have a minimum standard of care, regardless of which region you’re from,” he stated.
Additionally, the Diamond Regional Hospital, which will be staffed with some 1000 employees, has a management slate that is dominated by women. President Ali noted that 75 per cent of Guyana’s medical intake and 90 per cent of its nursing intake are women, describing Guyana as leaders when it comes to empowering women. President Ali also provided statistics on how much investments the PPP/C Government has made in the healthcare system, including constructing more than 26 health centres, upgrading more than 400 health facilities, and upgrading key hospitals like Lethem and Leonora into smart facilities. He also assured healthcare workers that they can be confident that they will have a rewarding future in the local healthcare system.
“We must be able to build a future, in which our healthcare professionals can rest assured that they have a rewarding future ahead. In the sense of your immediate benefits, the environment you work in, your welfare, your opportunities to own your own home, having good roads, cheap electricity; and rewarding also in service,” he said.
Necessary hospital
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony in his address, explained how they came up with the proposed new hospital at Diamond. In addition to the need for a new facility to complement the work being done by the old Diamond facility, he also cited the new housing developments and the increased business activity on the corridor.
“The old Diamond hospital had certain limitations. And the President decided that we must build a new Diamond Hospital. And so, with his vision of a world-class healthcare system, one of the things is that we must have a world class facility on the East Bank corridor. You would have seen the boom of housing on the East Bank. We can look right here at Diamond, the expansion of the housing schemes here,” Dr Anthony said.
“We can look at housing at the back of Providence and many other housing schemes along the corridor… think back to three, four years ago. The East Bank corridor is now a blossoming of new businesses. It has now become a vital hub for the oil and gas sector. And the remarkable growth in business dictates that we must also put in the social amenities to go along with those businesses.”
According to Anthony, it is about more than the opening of a new hospital. Anthony noted that it is also a testament to President Ali’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare, making it clear that this is not a privilege but a right for all.
The Health Minister also revealed that the hospital will be making its own oxygen since it has an oxygen plant. This is in addition to featuring two dialysis machines, a state-of-the-art blood banking system and a six-chamber mortuary.
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, also assured that the remaining five hospitals will be completed to the same high standards as that exhibited by the Diamond Regional hospital. She also re-emphasised China’s commitment to Guyana’s development.
“Chinese companies will continue to complete and deliver this project with high quality, high standards and high efficiency, which is my consistent requirement for Chinese companies – I would like to assure his excellency and the Guyanese people. The six regional hospitals project is another milestone in the joint efforts of our two nations to build the health-silk road.”
“Chinese companies are playing an increasingly important role in Guyana’s economic and social transformation, while enthusiastically contributing to the social and economic development of Guyana. They also actively fulfil social responsibilities,” the Ambassador further said.
The remaining regional hospitals left to be commissioned this year are the Lima, De Kinderen, Bath, Enmore and Number 75 regional hospitals.
Last year, $15.5 billion was allocated for the construction of the six regional hospitals, with a further $28.1 billion allocated this year.
Additionally, there is a state-of-the-art Paediatric and Maternity Hospital being built at Ogle.
