Health workers aim at stronger ties with regional officers

Jun 13, 2014 News

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By Zena Henry
Senior health officers from around the country received a stern talk on the delivery of health services yesterday, as they sat with heads of the health sector to partake in the first ever semi-annual Regional Health Officers and Programme Heads meeting.
Permanent Secretary (PS) Leslie Cadogan sought to remind the workers that as they go ahead to discuss matters affecting the health sector and seek recommendations, they should remember that it is their job to wait on citizens and to provide them with efficient and courteous service.
The PS was adamant about the need to seriously address the manner in which health services are delivered; and specifically, the treatment of patients and the professionalism displayed by healthworkers.

Cadogan went on to blast blatant and deliberate acts by officers, which is against their established operating procedures and charged that it is the government they shame when they behave in a manner not consistent with their functions.
Coming out of the opening session of the two-day event was the health administration’s notice of inconsistencies which include the delay of drug acquisition, lack/poor infrastructure, poor response to emergencies and the need for more collaboration amongst regional directors and regional health officers.
Yesterday’s opening ceremony which was held at the Grand Coastal Inn at Le Ressouvenir on the East Coast of Demerara saw speakers such as Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran, Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker and PAHO/WHO Guyana representative, Dr. William Ado.
Focus was placed mainly on hinterland regions where it was insinuated that health services are below par compared to what is provided in the capital and its surrounding areas. Some attendees had originated from far-reaching areas of upper Berbice, Potaro-Siparuni, upper Demerara and Essequibo among others.
Cadogan warned workers not to be timid in bringing issues that affect their specific areas.
“It is very important that challenges are reviewed and achievements highlighted in identifying lessons learnt. It is important for us to understand issues.”
Among these issues, he said, is to understand the relationship between local and Central Government, the regions and the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Local Government Ministry and the MOH.
Cadogan repeated that workers are the servants of the people and in highlighting issues, they (workers) are fulfilling their service to the people. He said, “There are issues pertaining to finance and human resources; we must understand these issues if we are going to be efficient, effective and deploy and assign our human resources where they are most needed.”
Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker agreed that integration between health officials and regional officials is imperative to the efficient provision of health services. Whittaker highlighted that the Regional Democratic Offices all have a health committee which deals with health issues within the region. He urged health workers to familiarize themselves with the Regional Executive Officers (REOs) and to make themselves available for their meetings. The Minister further urged health workers to highlight their problems to the REOs, and if the necessary action is not taken, then there are avenues to address that, he said.
Minister Whittaker reminded that the REOs are responsible for the areas where they are set up and they would have resources designated for the region. He mentioned specifically, the issue of transportation, when addressing a relatively new form of health provision which speaks patient outreaches.
“No longer can we wait for the sick to come visit us,” the Minister said. “We have to also be able to go to our patients.” He said that regional health workers could collaborate with the regional executive body for the use of vehicles, boats and other equipment. The Minister also made it clear that responsible communication must prevail in this cohesion, but while it is agreed that there are persons that make the job difficult, the Ministry is ready to deal with those forces.
The Health Minister was also vocal on the need for collaboration, but he charged that all sides need to play their part. Before turning his attention to the crux of his speech, Minister Ramsaran highlighted the importance of the bi-annual meeting. He said in similar events to yesterday’s meetings, many Ministry representatives failed to turn up and regional officials were appearing with long statutory reports. What resulted were returning issues that were not being addressed efficiently.
The Regional Department MOH, which organized the two-day event, took a new approach to get the regions together so that the inefficiencies could be addressed in an atmosphere where the officers are supposed to feel safe to be brutally honest and as frank as possible.
Minister Ramsaran dealt primarily with service provision, illnesses, managerial and administrative inefficiencies. This dealt with regions ordering drugs and not uplifting; in some cases they (drugs) expire or disappear, while orders are being made for drugs that are not needed. He spoke about professionalism in the delivery of service and other administrative glitches, such as payments etc. which in some cases is the fault of the Ministry itself, he highlighted.
PAHO/WHO representative to Guyana William Ado was also on hand to give a brief background and update on Guyana’s relationship with the international organization. He elaborated on Guyana’s moves to accomplish the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on health provision.

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