Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has assured that Guyana 's health sector will be prepared to adequately respond to any eventuality that may occur during the 2007 Cricket World Cup matches.
According to the Minister, a comprehensive plan has been formulated to ensure that the requisite environmental and health conditions, as well as supports, are in place to sustain the volume of traffic expected to descend on Guyana .
Minister Ramsammy explained that a number of health posts will be set up at strategic locations inside the Cricket Stadium to facilitate any emergencies during the matches.
“There will be a number of Acute Life Saving Rooms at the stadium, which will have to be outfitted like an emergency room”
Noting that people may not be able to move freely around the venue because of the anticipated crowd, the Minister said a health facility will also be established outside the stadium.
While it is not anticipated, plans are already in place for a hasty but smooth evacuation in the eventuality of a disaster occurring in any of the stands.
The major hospitals are also making adjustments to be able to deal with the possibility of an increased flow of patients.
Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Michael Khan, said the entire staff at the hospital is being trained in the basic life support courses.
Strategies to recover costs from the visit to the hospital by overseas patients are also being explored.
At the national level, some sixty medical personnel are being trained and will receive the requisite international certification to specifically deal with any health emergencies arising at the matches.
“For the six weeks or so that the matches will be held, these 60 persons will be deployed to work specifically with the CWC”
Since one of the major challenges of the sector is human resources, the Minister noted that the reassignment of this many persons could greatly impact on the sector's ability to adequately deal with everyday health occurrences.
“Because, while we will be responding to CWC, what about the provision of the normal service?
The mass gathering will not detract from the fact that there will continue to be the normal health emergencies occurring among Guyanese,” the Minister noted.
As such, plans are being crafted, in collaboration with international health organisations, to provide temporary replacements for the public health sector.
Five sites, including the Everest and GCC grounds, will host additional temporary health posts during the matches.
A well-outfitted ambulance with a specialist team will be deployed to travel between the five sites.
Five additional ambulances will also be positioned to provide service during the matches. The vehicles will then be utilised in the health sector.
“Some of the expenditures for the cricket will end up being a benefit to the sector, since it will be incorporated into it.” The Minister said.
Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Denzil Douglas, recently noted that the health readiness of Caribbean countries for the CWC cricket is a crucial factor in the assessment of perceived benefits to be reaped from this venture
“In another five months, the Caribbean will play host to thousands of visitors at the biggest event ever to be staged on these shores, the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
So, while CWC' 07 is certainly a huge sporting event that will continue to occupy our attention for some time into 2007 and beyond, how well we perform as a region will not only depend on our cricketing ambassadors, our sports administrators and our tourism sector, but equally important will be the contribution of our health sector in ensuring that the requisite environmental conditions and supports are in place to sustain the volume of traffic expected to descend on our countries” the Prime Minister had said.