Latest update January 9th, 2025 4:10 AM
Latest News
- Gov’t fearful of what investigation of lopsided oil contract would reveal- Chris Ram
- Hess hopes govt. 7th oil project will be approved by April
- ‘Ceasefire, captives deal in Gaza ‘very close’—Blinken
- Guyana protests as Venezuela plans to elect governor for Essequibo
- Woman dies while relaxing in car with boyfriend
‘Put the poison away’
– Health Minister urges Williamsburg residents
WILLIAMSBURG, CORENTYNE – Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said people need to look out for each other and avoid the risk of persons committing suicide.
The Minister made the remarks while addressing a gathering at the Williamsburg Health Centre Day last week.
Williamsburg is said to be one of the suicide ‘hot spots.’ In this community the prevalent chosen methods of self-murder are hanging and poisoning.
A section of the gathering
In Region Six, an area where there are major problems with alcohol and other substance abuse, persons are not making use of the facilities available to assist them.
There are three substance abuse centres in East Berbice/Corentyne – Skeldon, Mibicuri in Black Bush Polder and Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam.
Across Guyana, the ingestion of toxic substances accounts for 70 percent of suicides while hanging accounts for 22 percent. Government is also placing emphasis on training more persons in an attempt to curb some practices.
And speaking of other health issues, Dr, Ramsammy stressed the need for children to be immunised but although there is no cost attached to any service given at health facilities in Guyana, there are many who have not been vaccinated. There are times when health workers are actually turned away from homes when they attempt to intervene. Guyana has a wide range of vaccines but if persons do not make use of them then some diseases such as poliomyelitis may re-occur.
Minister Ramsammy is aiming at having all girls between the ages of nine and 11 vaccinated against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) free of charge. The necessary arrangements are being finalised. He said it was a tragedy that only 43 percent of babies born in Guyana are breast-fed, since the breast-fed children would have stronger immune systems.
Other strides to be made in the Region Six health sector include having social workers visit the homes of shut-ins, disabled, new born babies and persons with mental disability. This would eventually spread to other geographic locations.
The diabetic foot screening programme is being done at health centres and hospitals but people need to take better care of their feet. In the past, diabetes accounted for at least 200 amputations annually but this figure is now down by half over the last two years.
In a few weeks, Region Six is to receive a new health bus that would serve both East and West Berbice but would be in the care of Region Six.
The Williamsburg Health Center Day was not only to showcase the strides made at that facility but to endorse accountability. Over the years Minister Ramsammy and Chief Executive Officer of the Berbice Regional Health Authority, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo have been stressing the need for public servants to be more answerable to the people they serve. Thus creating an environment where starting last year, Health Center Day or Open Day was observed in Region Six – East Berbice/Corentyne.
In presenting an overview of the facility for the June 2009 to September 2010 period, Medex Carol Corlette said they are faced with a staff shortage, more security is necessary and some sections are in need of repairs. The centre needs potable water, a problem that has already engaged the attention of Minister Ramsammy.
The facility serves some 14,000 persons between Rose Hall Town and Albion. It offers a comprehensive range of service including post and anti-natal care, registration of births and deaths, diabetic foot-care screening, immunisation in addition to a youth friendly space. The staff includes one doctor, a medex, a mid-wife and a social worker.
Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo challenged the staff to host a blood drive. The target set is 50 units and sometime during the second week in October is the tentative date.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Jagdeo’s policies were a disaster
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Bharrat Jagdeo’s proclamation of his party’s approach to reducing income inequality... more
Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- It has long been evident that the world’s richest nations, especially those responsible... more
Weekend Cartoon
