A total of 1,039 residents are now enjoying better access to health services following the recommissioning of the health posts at Kamwatta, Arukamai and Imbotero in Region One.
The facilities were commissioned by the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, on Tuesday.
About $14 million was spent to reconstruct the Kamwatta Health Post, build a new fence, and install solar panels, among other features.
The $15 million upgraded health post at Arukamai will serve a population of 309 residents. Services being offered include chronic diseases treatment, family planning, vaccination programmes and adolescent healthcare.
Meanwhile, the upgraded $16 million Imbotero Health Post is now equipped to provide improved services to 410 residents. Telemedicine is also available at this particular health facility.
Residents welcomed the new developments which they said will alleviate the need for them to travel far to access basic health services.
One of the Community Health Workers at Kamwatta, Asif Emmanuel, said the health post is now in a much better state than it was in 2019.
“When I started to work here in 2019, it was not as nice as it is presently. It was in a deplorable state, the walls had holes. You couldn’t take the patients in the room since you were seeing through the walls. I am glad that the health post is in a better state because of the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Health,” Emmanuel said.
The Toshao of Kamwatta, James Persaud, is now relieved that residents from his community and elsewhere can access a range of services in a safe environment.
Kamwatta’s Vice-Toshao, Maurice Henry, also shared similar sentiments and noted that community health workers would always make time to provide the necessary care to the patients.
Meanwhile, Minister Anthony said the government is making heavy investments to improve health infrastructure countrywide in order for residents in remote communities to benefit from a healthcare system that provides adequate medical care.
“We started out in 2022 by assigning approximately $100 million directly from the ministry to help improve the infrastructure. By 2023, we increased that to $200 million and $500 million in 2024. We understand that if we want to have these facilities, they need to be in good condition,” Dr Anthony said.
He encouraged the residents to make use of the training opportunities that are available in the health sector and to become community health workers (CHWs), nursing assistants, medexes, and professional nurses.
This, he stressed, will help to complement the expansion of health facilities across the region.
The commissioning ceremonies were attended by Annansha Peters, Regional Vice Chairperson; Mr Sewchand, Regional Executive Officer; Dr Steven Cheefoon, regional health officer; and Hinterland Health Coordinator Michael Gouveia. (Department of Public Information)
