Sunken dredge affecting medical supplies to Issano
The Public Health Ministry may soon have to airlift medical supplies to Issano if efforts to remove the dredge blocking the Mazaruni River channel fail.
The sunken dredge or “Dragga” in the Mazaruni River is affecting the supply of drugs to health facilities that serve a number of villages along the Mazaruni River. The dredge belongs to Crown Mining Company.
The sunken “Dragga”
Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Kay Shako is hoping that the channel could be cleared soon in order for supplies to be delivered by the end of this week. However, if efforts to salvage the dredge are unsuccessful, the Ministry’s next option will be to transport drugs by air.
Medex at the Issano Health Centre, Josephine Murphy, told the Government Information Agency (GINA), that since the sinking of the dredge in June, there has been difficulty in getting medical supplies to the health centre. “At present, for the first time since the pontoon was in the channel, we ain’t (have not) really getting no drugs coming up and we usually use the jet boat,” Medex Murphy explained.Murphy explained that prior to the sinking of the dredge, the health centre received drugs in a timely manner. Over the weekend, the Government engaged a salvager to remove the dredge. A site visit was made last Saturday.Issano is a landing community giving access to mining lands, as well as neighbouring Isenero. The health centre at Issano serves an estimated population of just over 100 persons. Persons traversing mining areas would seek medical attention at the health centre.
