New $40M Port Mourant Hospital outpatient clinic boosts healthcare delivery

ensure such.

THE Port Mourant Hospital in East Berbice-Corentyne commissioned a new outpatient unit on Saturday, improving the accessibility and quality of healthcare services in the area.

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Construction constructed a concrete two-storey modern structure to the tune of approximately $40M.

The outpatient facility will be situated in the lower flat, consisting of three consultation rooms, a pharmacy, an examination room, a waiting area, and a washroom facility; it is also wheelchair accessible. Additionally, the upper flat will be used as a Regional Training Centre.

Regional Health Officer Dr.Vishalya Sharma, while addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony on Saturday, highlighted that over the past two years, the region has seen a 100 per cent increase in patients accessing outpatient services alone, as such, the construction of the fa - cility was much needed and data driven. She noted that it would also better assist them in capturing data, guiding regional policies, and enabling them to focus their resources where needed.

“In Region Six, what is happening in terms of data, so you'll better understand how important this facility is today. In 2020, just for outpatient services, Region Six would have [sic] seen a total of 48,760 patients. Two years later, we are seeing 82,637. This is almost 100 per cent in two years just in medical outpatient services; I haven't included A& E statistics yet," the Regional Health Officer said.

She continued: " So it’s really important when you see that building, that we understand that when the process and everything has been started it is heavily guided by our regional data and by our evidence of what we have in front of us, so we're not just putting up a building because it looks very fancy in the compound; it’s a highly data-driven process…Of that total of 2022, 21,346 came from this very facility; so for that reason, this facility would help the 21,000 that you would have seen last year; it would provide a better environment.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony posited that this is just symbolic of many more things that will happen in the region and the country. He said the government and, by extension the Ministry of Health, are committed to improving healthcare delivery as such investment will continue to

At present, continuous investment is being made in improving and upgrading services at the hospital, including the dental clinic, which is now equipped with five dental chairs, and more persons are utilizing the services. Further, the hospital will soon benefit from a digital X-ray system. The Ophthalmology Hospital is working around the clock and continued investments are being made to bring it back to its former glory. He noted that in 2021, more than $100M was spent to upgrade all the health facilities in the region. This year, another $100M has been allocated for minor repairs and fixing of health centres and to further