Residents residing on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) will soon be able to access medical services close by, as construction of the new regional hospital will commence within two months time.
This is according to Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony who made the disclosure as he was engaging residents of Buxton on Monday. Prime Minister Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips is currently leading the ministerial outreach at the Buxton Community Center.
“For the first time we are going to build a regional hospital on the East Coast, so that no longer people will have to go Georgetown to get a surgery done, it would be done right here on the East Coast and the construction of that hospital will start in another two months time,” the Health Minister noted.
According to the Health Minister, once completed, it will feature an Accident and Emergency section, new labs, 75 beds for patients, an imaging suite among others.
"So instead of going to Georgetown, you can come to this regional hospital," he said.
In addition, Minster Anthony said works are ongoing at the diabetic clinic at Lusignan, which is intended to be a one-stop shop for diabetic patients. This he said is on schedule to be completed by the end of this year. "As I speak, we are putting the finishing touches for that facility and before the year is over, we'll be able to open that facility right here on the East Coast of Demerara."
The Minister noted that the East Coast is slated for massive development in terms of health care.
"In addition to that, at Ogle, we are also in the process of setting up a 256 bed hospital this is going to be for children who would have all kinds of complications that we cannot manage them in the regular facility, so this is for high risk children and high risk mothers."
Once the Pediatric and Maternal Hospital is completed, any child who requires paediatric cardiac surgery [heart surgery] will be offered this service free of cost, the health minister said.
The health sector was allocated $73.2 billion in the National 2022 Budget as six modern regional hospitals are expected to be constructed to bring access closer to citizens.
