–in unrelenting campaign of smudge, deception

THE RULING Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday blasted the Alliance For Change (AFC) for its “constant unabated attack on the Region Eight” administration, and its attempt to “deceive” the residents of that region over current developments.

PPP General Secretary Mr Clement Rohee, at the party’s weekly press conference held at Freedom House, said: “The AFC, in their usual rhetoric and constant unabated attack on the Region Eight Administration, has once again sought to deceive the residents of that region and to demean the hardworking staff of the Regional Health Services.

“No mention is ever made of the achievements and success stories of the region. On the contrary, only isolated negative issues are highlighted.”

Rohee said residents of the region have grown weary of the AFC’s practise of peering into the administration’s work programme and then engaging in propaganda and a smear campaign aimed at taking credit for works that are already listed on that administration’s work programme when those works would have commenced and been completed.

Rohee said, “In other words, the AFC would then have the public believe that the projects materialized only because they highlighted them. What an act of deception!

“The same councillors who create a hullabaloo must be cognisant of the fact that resources are always finite, and hence the need to prioritise needs and to appreciate that Government cannot satisfy all the needs of the people at the same time.”

He made it clear that honest and civil-minded councillors would have no difficulty in reminding their constituents of the limitation on resources.

Rohee’s comments followed media reports that quoted Region Eight Chairman, Mark Crawford, as calling on the Government to make public the full details of the procurement of a “ramshackle ambulance” that the region is refusing to take possession of.

He said, “The said councillor sat at Budget meeting in 2012, and was part of a discussion to have an ambulance procured in 2013. The award for the ambulance was made by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board in the second half of 2013. It was procured in late 2013 and delivered in March 2014. The ambulance is an off-road vehicle suitable for the terrain. This vehicle has already transported three patients to Georgetown since its acquisition.”

Rohee underscored several other developments in the region that were aimed at advancing the quality of the regional delivery of healthcare services. He said, “The Chenapau Health Centre was slated for rehabilitation in 2012. Mobilization was paid, and the contractor did not commence the project. This is reflected in the Auditor General’s Report. The rehabilitation to the Health Centre fence is part of the region’s health recurrent programme for 2014.

“Chenapau has benefited, inter alia, from treated bed nets; (receipt of) a boat and engine; outreaches by GMOs, and the placement of malaria personnel.

“The region continues to airlift patients and mothers that require services at the Mahdia District Hospital…

“Notable mention must be made of the following facts: the placement of four doctors at Mahdia; significant increases in the number of registered nurses, midwives, nursing assistants, laboratory technicians, rehabilitation assistants, environmental health officer etc.
The procurement of vehicles and ATVs to aid in the work of the Health Department; the construction of new health centres and the rehabilitation of dozens of health buildings must also be added to the list.

“The delivery of drugs and medical supplies has been done on request to all facilities, including Chenapau. Furthermore, the region has recommended scores of young people for training in the fields of Medex, Professional Nursing, Midwifery, CHWs, Dentex, etc.”

Rohee also cited the solar electrification of health centres in Kato, Kopinang, Paramakatoi, Kurukubaru and Monkey Mountain, which were competed in 2013; as well as the construction of new health posts at Princeville and Maikwak in 2012 and 2013.

Rohee stressed that the PPP/Civic Government has allocated a significant amount of financial and other resources, over the past decade and more, to provide additional health services and to improve significantly the quality of those services in Region Eight.

“There is yet much to be done in the area of healthcare services; that is, in terms of extending the range of services Government provides, the quality of those services, and timely accessibility to those services. But honesty and fairness demand that we give due recognition to the tremendous achievements in health care in Region Eight under the PPP/C Government,” he declared.

The region’s 2014 Capital Budget Programme has an allocation of $21M, under its Health Programme, for the construction of health posts in Kaibarupai and Itabac to benefit 1000 residents. A further $4.6M have been earmarked for procurement of ATVs for the health centres, and $1.920M for furniture for staff quarters.

An additional $14.8M were also earmarked for the procurement of furniture and equipment for hospitals and health centres and huts.

(By Vanessa Narine)

excerpts from Guyanachronicle