New health centre for Buxton
-being built by volunteer group
Stabroek News
June 3, 2004
The co-operative spirit: Prime Minister Sam Hinds (bending second from left), Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin (right), Region Four Chairman Alan Munroe and others joined in turning the sod for the new Buxton Health Centre yesterday. (GINA photo)
Buxtonians were in a jubilant mood yesterday with the laying of the foundation for a new health centre.
The ceremony for the Buxton Health Centre Project drew hundreds to the Company Road location.
They chanted `Buxton is part of Guyana' indicating many residents' concerns that the village is being neglected due to the crime associated with the area.
They also applauded the effort of Jay Bee Medical Services International Ltd for the initiative of providing quality health care service.
US-based Jay Bee adopted Buxton some 20 years ago. Recently it went into the area and started working towards providing residents with medical services.
Through its overseas-based outreach activity, Jay Bee has laid the groundwork for the extension of the health centre to provide the facility with examinations rooms, an emergency room, a dental clinic, a paediatric room and a trained staff on duty 24 hours.
The project, undertaken by Jay Bee, is expected to be completed by November. The group will then work towards a sustained programme, developing a better structure that would see doctors visiting every two months.
George Adams, Chief Financial Officer, Jay Bee and a Buxtonian told the gathering that Guyana needs a level playing field. He said that the assistance that government gave other areas should also be given to Buxton.
Opposition leader Robert Corbin expressed hope that the initiative would signal to those in authority that there should indeed be a level playing field.
He said that the community is now being displayed in a different light, which was not the case two years ago when only one side of Buxton was coming out.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds welcomed the call for a level playing field but added that the government had been working in areas throughout the country.
Hinds said that $12M was allocated to New Amsterdam for better health care services and recently plans were announced for a new hospital in Linden.
Verbena Reed, President of Jay Bee said that a five-year plan has been devised for the programme that provides for development in Buxton and surrounding areas.
She said the mission started some 20 years ago when overseas-based Buxtonian Genevieve Adams realised her community needed help. When word got around in the US people jumped on board and the numbers continue to grow. (Iana Seales)