President Dr. Irfaan Ali posited that there is a major healthcare expansion in Guyana’s hinterland communities, allowing Indigenous communities to benefit from much-needed services.
He spoke at length about the healthcare transformation in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine as he addressed Toshaos (Indigenous leaders) at the opening ceremony of the 2025 National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference on Monday.
Referencing major improvements since 2020, President Ali said thousands of surgeries were done in hinterland hospitals that could not do surgeries before.
“In Region One, we had less than 23 community health workers. We had zero surgeries conducted in the region, zero ophthalmology surgeries conducted, zero facilities, zero facilities with vaccine refrigerators, zero oxygen generation and production, and zero telemedicine facilities,” the President revealed.
Last year, over 500 surgeries were conducted at the Mabaruma Regional Hospital. Referrals to the Georgetown Hospital for critical cases also decreased due to investments in healthcare in the region.
Going forward, President Ali revealed that the new Moruca Regional Hospital will be completed; the Mabaruma Hospital will have expanded services; a nursing and Allied training complex will be established; health centres will be upgraded to polyclinics, and the electronic health record system will also be rolled out in the region.
Additionally, the government will establish a regional pharmaceutical bond, enhance transportation for patients and build more accommodation for doctors and nurses.
Between 2020 and 2024, in Region Seven the government invested in more than 45 pieces of transportation for the easy movement of medical practitioners and patients.
Prior to this period, President Ali said there was less than 45 per cent of drugs and medical supplies available in this region.
“We’ve expanded the services available in this region by leaps and bounds. We have added new medical specialties, both in equipment and in human resources, to this region. 43 new community health workers were trained and added to the staff, more nurses, more doctors, more patient care assistants and all, most of which came directly from your communities in your region,” the Head of State said.
He promised that health centres will also be upgraded to polyclinics and that a state-of-the-art hospital will be builtin Bartica.
In Region Eight, the President explained that a few years ago, X-rays and ultrasound services had to be referred out of the region.
“Almost 40% of all patients had to be medevaced out of the region.
“Today, what do we have? Let me give you one example. In 2020, 360 cases were referred to GPHC. Today, 180 only; half were referred and 94 persons were referred to the Regional Hospital at Mahdia,” the President revealed.
In Region Eight, President assured of the completion of the new Kato hospital; upgrades to Mahdia Hospital, Monkey Mountain and similarly health centres will be upgraded to polyclinics.
Region Nine was no different from the other hinterland regions with surgeries and other essential services not available prior to investments in the healthcare system.
“Today, less than 2% needs to be transferred out of the region. Between 2015 and 2020, 39% of patients required medical evacuation to the GPHC. In 2024, this dropped from 39% to 3% because of the investment we are making, the improvement in the services, the quality of services,” President Ali said.
He further mentioned the training of over 500 health care professionals in the region and the completion of over 1000 surgeries at the Lethem Hospital.
“Today, the services of the Lethem Hospital are of such high and exceptional quality that we are now taking a record number of patients from Brazil getting their surgeries done here in Guyana. It was the reverse before,” President Ali said.
But President Ali said all of the advances and successes in healthcare is not a celebration of his government, but a celebration of the country and its people.
Promises were also made to expand and improve agriculture with projects in aquaculture, honey, coffee, cocoa, and spices.
“You are part of a revolution in the agricultural sector, the spices, new investment in coffee, cocoa, high-value commodities. We are going to partner with you, a continued social transformation in health, education, important infrastructure,” the President said.
Grants, subsidies, and economic literacy programmes will also be introduced in the Indigenous communities as the President further pledged continued support for Amerindian land titling.
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