The Government of Guyana had awarded a contract for the construction of a Diabetes Specialty Centre at Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara.
According to the Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony the contractor has already been awarded a mobilisation fee and foundation works have commenced. The dimensions of the centre its estimated cost and name of the contractor are unknown at this time.
When completed the centre would serve as a ‘one-stop shop’ for diabetic patients.
“This facility will be built at Lusignan, and when it’s completed, it would offer diabetic patients a comprehensive range of services. So, if you’re a diabetic patient and you go there, you’ll have the doctors to see you – the endocrinologist – you will also have someone to counsel you in terms of the nutrition; telling you what to eat, how to eat, and how to prepare your meals. We’ll have also laboratory support there, so all the blood tests and other tests that you need to do can be done there. We’ll also have an area there where they can examine your eyes, because that’s another part of the management of diabetic patients and also how to do foot care,” Minister Anthony said today.
He added, “So, all the services that a diabetic patient will need to have would be offered at this centre. It is the first of its kind in Guyana and if it works well – as we anticipate it should – then we’ll replicate this in other parts of the country.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes. An estimated 1.6 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year.
