Medical services at the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital – the Diamond Diagnostic Centre – have been limited as the facility has been experiencing widespread short circuiting since Thursday.

Guyana Times understands that on Wednesday, the power at certain sections of the hospital went down, but efforts were ongoing to get things up and running again; however, this did not last long. This newspaper was told that by Thursday, a number of sections at the medical facility were without power.

This was compounded by the fact that several pieces of medical machinery at the hospital, such as the ultrasound and X-ray machines are down, while the in-house pharmacy hardly has medication. This situation has caused the medical facility to close its doors to patients, attending only to emergency cases. Other patients, this newspaper understands, are not being allowed into the compound.

Several notices at the medical facility advise that the hospital is not in full operation and is only attending to emergency cases. The other patients were directed to the nearest health centres for treatment.

“Due to electrical difficulties, we will ONLY be attending to EMERGENCIES please visit your nearest health centre until further notice,” detailed a notice at the hospital that is signed by “Order of Management”.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that two patients from an accident in Soesdyke on Friday evening had to be rushed from the Diamond Hospital to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

On the other hand, this newspaper was also informed that wires have been sparking at the facility, frightening the staff there. In fact, the Fire Service rushed to the facility on Saturday morning after receiving reports of electrical sparks at the facility.

An official attached to the Diamond Fire Station confirmed to this newspaper that they received a report at about 09:50h; however, when they got there they “saw nothing”.

Meanwhile when contacted, a doctor attached to the medical facility explained to this publication that due to the short circuit, the lights and air conditioning (AC) units in several of the examination rooms at the hospital are not working.

The medical practitioner explained that the staffers do not mind working in these conditions and are only using those rooms where the lights and ACs are operational. He confirmed too that the hospital is only looking at emergency patients and babies.

Several calls made to the newly appointed Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, for a comment on the matter and to ascertain whether interventions are being made to address the situation at the Diamond Hospital proved futile.

On all occasions, this newspaper was told that the Minister is “busy” and “unavailable” to take the calls. After it was explained what the call was in relation to, a promise was made that the newly appointed Health Minister will return the call, but up until late Saturday evening, no such call was received by this newspaper.

Calls made to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, went unanswered.

Only last year, staff of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre complained bitterly to Guyana Times about the “inhumane” conditions under which they work, expressing their frustrations.

This publication had subsequently visited the hospital and spoke to staff, who were guarded out of fear of victimisation. They said the situation was sickening and no one seemed to be listening to their cries.

“The institution is not functioning properly, we don’t have no proper system in the place… we are not getting anything. We don’t really know what’s going on,” a hospital attendant told this publication.

While they have to deal with insanitary working conditions, gratuity payments is also a burning issue. Staff members are upset that they continue to be pushed around when it is time for them to receive their gratuity.

Additionally, complaints were also made about the facility being flooded continuously, whether or not it rains, as a result of some faulty repairs works done at the medical facility.

According to staff, they have tried and have failed miserably in their efforts to make contact with the Regional Health Officer (RHO), under whose purview such matters fall. Her office is located in Triumph, on the East Coast of Demerara.

“She is supposed to be visiting this hospital on a regular basis, at least on a weekly basis to see the struggle that the staff are facing and we are not getting on to her. She gave some of us a number, and when we call it, we are not getting through,” staffers related.