THE curricula of nursing and medical training programme are being reviewed and revised to ensure medical personnel are equipped with the knowledge and skills for emerging challenges that face the public health sector.
"Happy to have it" A gleeful Dr. Jennifer Westford proudly holds up the ceremonial key after she received it from Mr. Shirai who represented Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan Masateru Ito.
The towering buildings representing phase one completed is set at the east-west axis to take advantage of and utilize maximum ventilation.
Mr. Shirai left, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Ms. Sonia Roopnauth (third from left) and REO Gerard Rutherford (right) awaiting the count of one...two...three from Minister Jennifer Westford (second from left) before cutting the ribbon.
Dr. Jennifer Westford, in her capacity as Acting Minister of Health, made this disclosure yesterday, delivering the feature address at a ceremony to mark the completion of phase one of the new New Amsterdam Hospital.
The hospital (located at the southern end of Canje Bridge opposite the National Psychiatric Hospital) is under construction, with two more phases remaining and envisaged to be completed by year-end. It is being built through a Japanese grant at a cost of 1,453 million yen, or approximately US$13.2M.
Dr. Westford said Government is expanding the quantum of nurses and medexes being trained in 2004.
The National Health Plan 2003-2004 as approved by Cabinet outlines Government's strategy for addressing the challenges of the health sector.
According to the Minister, this project is yet another tangible representation of Government's pledge to consistently demonstrate its commitment and ensure the health services offered to the people of Guyana are constantly improved.
The project is providing 200 direct jobs for Guyanese, who are working with Japanese technicians under floodlights at nights in an effort to meet tight schedules.
Mr. Shirai, representative of Japanese Ambassador Masateru Ito, said it is the envoy's desire that phase two is also implemented "smoothly, precisely and safely."
According to Mr. Shirai, it is expected, after the construction, that facilities and equipments for this hospital will be improved substantially, and it will become a hospital valued by the people of the region, satisfying their local medical requirements.
His Worship the Mayor Claude Henry also delivered remarks at the function. The programme was chaired by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Ms. Sonia Roopnauth.
Phase one of the project involved the construction of the Service Department building and 114 wards, the central corridor and the pump room.
The Service Department houses the laundry and sewing rooms; the kitchen; scullery; canteen and the electrical room. The wards cover medicine (male and female); pediatric; gynecology; ophthalmic; surgery (male and female); and maternity.
A reservoir is also being dug to enhance the water supply at the facility. The water capacity will be approximately 110 tons.
A 75 KVA generator is also housed at the facility as a backdrop in case of blackouts.
The Consultant of the project is a joint venture between Yamashita Sekkei Inc. and Binco Ltd.
Contractors are Kitano Construction Corporation (Construction) and Nissho Iwai Corporation (Equipment).