Davis Memorial Hospital plugging education as health care strategy
Stabroek News
April 28, 2002
Davis Memorial Hospital (DMH) plans to take a proactive approach towards the delivery of quality health care in Guyana, Chief Executive Officer of the institution, Bertie Henry, said.
The CEO made this disclosure at the hospital on Monday during a press conference, which was organised to launch the calendar of events for the institution’s 35th anniversary celebrations. The anniversary is being held under the theme ‘A Time For Service, A Place For Excellence.’
Henry told the media that the hospital was not only concerned about providing health care to the citizens but also keen on raising the standard of health care in the country.
In that regard, he noted that the hospital had turned its attention to education as one of the approaches to the delivery of quality health care. Last year, Henry said, the institution trained 11 persons in foundation health care and they have since graduated and are working at some of the top medical institutions in the country.
Further, the CEO informed that DMH had established closer links with its affiliate hospital in Trinidad, resulting in the continued presence of neurosurgeon, Dr Richard Spann in Guyana. Henry said that overseas professionals in the health field would also help train personnel at the institution. He observed that since its establishment the hospital has always taken a holistic approach to health care so whenever patients visited the institution they were taught how to prevent illnesses.
He pointed out that the hospital continued to benefit from overseas aid and support from donors, including the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist through its ingathering programme.
The CEO said that his administration was working on stabilising its staff strength since the hospital had lost a few professionals over the years. “We will continue to expand our services and as we do, we would ensure that every citizen regardless of their financial status be afforded with quality health care.”
Henry remarked that it was a very exciting moment for the hospital staff. “On this occasion of our 35th anniversary we at DMH are very excited, reaching thus far is a sure sign of growth and stability and we will continue to progress and help in the development of this country,” Henry said.
He expressed appreciation for the support he had been receiving from other medical agencies, acknowledging that Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, and his ministry had been giving his hospital tremendous support. He praised his own staff, saying that all through good as well as bad times they have stood committed to their task and continued to give invaluable support to the institution. Among those who attended the conference were Secretary of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, Hubert Jack; Upper East Coast District pastor, Dennis Mingo and businessman Orin Benjamin. The activities for the anniversary included a tour of the hospital facilities by schools, along with dental checks and medical outreach in Georgetown and a grand health march.
The genesis of the institution was on July 14, 1952 when the SDA Mission voted to erect a clinic at Peter Rose and Almond Streets and two years later the clinic opened its doors to the public. On April 16, 1967 the DMH was officially opened and the facility was dedicated to alleviate the physical, mental and spiritual suffering of the people of Guyana.