APNU+AFC promises Barticians better health system

Apr 28, 2015 News

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The opposition coalition, A Partnership for a National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)

has vowed to reform the public health care system and to withdraw the multi-million drug supply contract to public health institutions, if elected to govern come May 11.
As he addressed at least 6,000 party supporters at a rally held at the Bartica Community Centre on Sunday, Dr. George Norton lashed out at the government for not having a well-resourced and functioning operating theatre at the Bartica Hospital, no resident surgeon, paediatrician, obstetrician or gynaecologist.
He highlighted that Region Seven was an example of how the government has been flouting the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act by failing to have the requisite personnel to perform safe operations.
He told Barticians that for too long have citizens been the recipients of second-hand health care and that the APNU+AFC had a clear vision on how to turn that around. The doctor revealed that proper health facilities in all of the Regions of this country, especially those in the hinterland are among priorities for the APNU+AFC government.
He highlighted as imperative, having pharmaceuticals: drugs and medications in adequate supply at health institutions across country. He said that for too long people have been going to hospitals to be prescribed medications, only to be told that they are not in supply.

Norton, who served as Shadow Minister of Health in the last Parliament, warned of expired drugs. According to the doctor, he has even seen drugs with expiry dates that had been changed.
“It is time Barticians get their general surgeons right in Bartica. Barticians must not be content with the outreach programmes where doctors are coming for a weekend and doing 100 surgeries and then you are left to suffer,” he told the roaring crowd.
“We want our own gynaecologists and obstetricians here in Bartica…We want our own paediatrician in Bartica. We must have an operating theatre functioning 24/7: fully equipped with all the necessary instruments,” he said to the gathering.
Dr. Norton implored them to consider that there needs to be proper administration over the health system.
He said that the time has come for fully quipped ambulances not only on the road but also on the water. “We don’t want vehicles, we want a proper equipped ambulance with all the necessary facilities. It is about time the ambulance can come for people with not only the driver.”
Norton told the crowd that the coalition government would ensure that health care workers deliver “their monies worth.”
“You can’t be on call and speaking to the patient on the phone when you are supposed to come out and see the patient…Never again in Bartica should there exist a situation where you have to go to a doctor’s private office for a service you can get at the public hospital.”
He said that recently, doctors have adopted the stance of denying that they ever “touched the patient” or that the patient visited. He said that there are unqualified practitioners who work in “bottom house” clinics.
Norton reminded that it is in the laws that a facility for medical termination of pregnancy facility should be in every administrative region of the country. “A mother should not have to go and risk her life and pay lots of money to do something that the government is supposed to provide for you the people.”
He said the health system is the way it is as it relates to drugs because since 2005, the government has one main source of supply. He lamented too that the company was selling drugs to the government for far more than can be obtained from other companies.
“But it’s what you call cronies: friends of the regime, friends of the regime that have a monopoly. We are saying as soon as we get into power, we are going to stop this cabinet order and apply the procurement and tender process so that we can have a level playing field for all the supply of medications and medical supply.”
He told the Barticians that the ruling party has been saying that the opposition has been blocking development through budget cuts but Norton made it clear that the APNU+AFC has no problem with development .
“We are fully in support of development but like everything else you put us in Parliament for us to scrutinize the projects that the government is involved in,” he said.
The crowd shouted “They thief we money, they thief we money.”
Prominent Bartica businesswoman Kamla Persaud stated that the People’s Progressive Party had forgotten their Region. She reminded the crowd of the 23-year-old mother who recently lost her life due to a botched abortion.
She said too that a 47-year-old woman was eventually diagnosed with cancer after doctors at Bartica had told her that she was instead suffering from appendicitis and fibroids. Persaud related too that her nephew who had been involved in an accident was a victim of improper diagnosis which resulted in his death.
She said he did not receive the appropriate treatment during the critical 12-hour period to reduce the swelling of the brain. Persaud appealed to the nurses who were in attendance. She acknowledged that while they have rights they also have a responsibility to patients.
She had a clear message for the nurses: “You are citizens and you have rights but you cannot tell patients ‘I fed up seeing your face. Next time you deh hey I hope I ain’t deh fuh see you.’”
“It is time my fellow Barticians, fellow Guyanese it is time for a better tomorrow…Betters days are coming,” the businesswoman said.

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