Guyana's first polyclinic which was officially declared open on Friday at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, is to provide internal medicine services, basic paediatric, orthopaedic, obstetrics and gynaecological care as well as outpatient treatment.

Persons can also be prepared for surgery at the clinic as well as receive follow-up treatment there, according to the Director, Medical and Professional Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr Madan Rambarran.

He said too that the facility will serve as an extension of the GPHC, which has an average of 1,000 patients in the outpatient area on a daily basis.

The launching of the facility at Enmore Pasture coincided with the birth anniversaries of the late Guyanese President, Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan and Ashley Anthony, the three-year-old daughter of Dr. Frank Anthony, who played a major role in the success of the polyclinic project which is expected to benefit some 20,000 persons from Enmore and neighbouring districts.

"The establishment of this facility is a big step toward the provision of quality health care," Rambarran noted, adding that the facility will be staffed with professionals from the GPHC.

Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy lauded the efforts and contributions of all who were instrumental in the realisation of the project, particularly Dr. Anthony. The works began late in December 2001.

Dr Ramsammy said that the facility was "testimony to what can be achieved through collaboration" and noted that it is essential for the members of the community and residents of surrounding areas to protect and care it.

"We want this to be the community's focal point for healthy living," Dr. Ramsammy remarked.

According to the health minister, health centres will be opened shortly across the country for the benefit of more than 60,000 Guyanese. He disclosed too that a processor for the X-ray machine at the polyclinic will be shipped to the country from a New York-based group named "Friends of Enmore" within the next two weeks.

Further, the minister revealed that an ambulance will be available by August for use by the clinic and health centres within reach of the Enmore district.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ramsammy also announced that a state-of-the-art Burns Centre, which promises to be one of the best of its kind in the Caribbean, will be declared open within a few months with the help of a group in Canada, the Ministry of Health and the GPHC.

President Bharrat Jagdeo who presented the feature address noted that Guyana is still a "very poor country which is heavily in debt," adding that significant changes will have to be made at the industrial level very soon. "We have to maximise the use of our limited money. We have to constantly consider extra costs."

He also observed that social justice and progress in the eradication of poverty cannot be attained "...without health to all our people."

At the conclusion of the ceremony, former President and Dr. Jagan's widow, Janet Jagan and Ashley Anthony unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening.

Those in attendance included representatives of various agencies which contributed to the project, US Ambassador, Ronald Godard, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud, Chairman of the GPHC Board, Doreen de Caires, several members of the diplomatic corps and special invitees. (Edlyn Benfield)