A surge in diabetes and an increasing number of patients requiring dialysis in Region Six have prompted the government to roll out urgent new interventions, even as major development projects advance across the region. President Irfaan Ali, speaking during an outreach on Friday, said the trend is “deeply concerning” and requires both immediate treatment support and long-term prevention.
The Ministry of Health will expand dialysis facilities at hospitals and health centres, but the President stressed that the real focus must be prevention. Community-level programmes targeting diabetes and chronic illnesses will be launched shortly to stop residents from progressing to dialysis.
At the same time, major upgrades to the regional health system are underway. The New Amsterdam Hospital is being built into a level-five facility. A $1.2 billion state-of-the-art nursing school and multipurpose training centre are nearing completion, alongside a new $500 million dormitory. The drug distribution system is being modernised for faster deliveries, and new customer-service desks in every major facility will allow patients to report poor treatment, with complaints affecting gratuity, promotions and disciplinary actions.
With large-scale development coming to Region Six, the President said the next five years will see “massive demand” for skilled workers across technical and service fields. The Ministry of Labour will expand industrial training programmes and intensify recruitment through Skills Connect, the Job Bank and the Central Recruitment Agency. The region already hosts one of the hemisphere’s most advanced technical training centres, with a modern hospitality institute set to follow.
Education is also being transformed. The Guyana Digital School will launch soon, offering 24/7 access to learning. Nearly 1,000 students in Region Six are already enrolled, with a target of 5,000 by December. The Education Management Information System is being expanded to all schools, and new analytics tools will be used to identify weaknesses and improve CSEC and NGSA performance. Students will soon be able to pursue engineering and pre-medicine programmes right in Region Six, reducing costs and allowing them to study closer to home.
Public utilities and infrastructure upgrades continue across the region. Guyana Water Incorporated is investing in new treatment plants, wells, solar systems and filtration upgrades, while GPL is expanding transmission lines, substations and distribution feeders. Aviation and maritime plans include the new Rosignol International Airport, dredging of the Berbice River and expansion of river-safety technology for fisherfolk.
Work along the Corentyne Highway is progressing, with thousands of new lights, sidewalks and drainage upgrades coming. The President said poor performance by some contractors will trigger investigations and possible legal action. Derelict vehicles along the corridor will be removed, and temporary lighting and stricter safety supervision will be implemented.
Sea-defence concerns have intensified with significant mangrove depletion along vulnerable areas. Three kilometres of rip-rap reinforcement will be installed, along with enhanced monitoring of salinity and coordinated coastal-protection planning.
The President said all these efforts—from health and education to roads and utilities—are geared toward ensuring Region Six keeps pace with national development. However, he emphasised that rising diabetes and dialysis cases remain one of the region’s most pressing challenges and will be met with an aggressive prevention-focused response.
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