X-ray machine commissioned at Kumaka District Hospital

– to enhance healthcare in Moruca

Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo has commissioned a new x-ray machine and X-ray Department at the Kumaka District Hospital in the Moruca Sub-region, Barima-Waini (Region One).

The facility was commissioned during a specialist medical outreach and COVID-19 vaccination campaign Dr. Mahadeo led to the Region last week.

Director General at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo at the commissioning of a new x-ray machine at the Kumaka District Hospital.

The Director General was pleased that the Region finally had its own functional X-ray Department, which is essential to providing quality medical care.

Dr. Mahadeo commended the Region One administration for taking steps to provide this service, in keeping with President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s mandate to ensure that persons in the hinterland areas had access to quality healthcare.

“While this might seem to be a small service, but if on a monthly basis you do 60 to 100 x-rays and sometimes you will do more than that, it is 100 persons who do not have to travel out of the Region to get this service.

So, this service is being offered in this district for the first time ever in this hospital and I would like to say congratulations to the residents of this sub-district because you are well on your way. I know there are a lot of works more and we intend to ensure regional healthcare reaches its full potential,” he said.

The Director General assured staff at the hospital, and the residents, that the PPP/C Administration is keen to keep all of its campaign promises to the people.

Hinterland Coordinator at the Ministry, Mr. Michael Gouveia was also pleased about the developments at the hospital.  “I am delighted and excited, this has been long in the making … I believe that this is going to help a great deal in delivering quality service to the people of Moruca and by extension the Region,” he said.

Regional Health Officer, Dr. Steven Cheefoon also lauded the availability of this vital service in the Moruca Sub-region, which is the largest populated sub-district of Region One.

X-ray Technician, Mr. Devon Vieira tries out the x-ray machine at the Kumaka District Hospital as Director General at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo (right), Regional Health Officer, Dr. Steven Cheefoon, second from left, and others look on.

“On a weekly basis, every Thursday when the boat would take maternal patients to Suddie to deliver, we had to send patients to do x-rays to diagnose simple things, fractures that can be fixed here.

And we have taken the approach as a Region, as a Ministry and as a Government to build capacity within Moruca. So, we have already sent an orthopaedic technician here so the simple fractures that will be diagnosed by this machine can be addressed right away,” he said.

Dr. Cheefoon also noted that the x-ray service will complement the ultrasound service that is offered at the hospital. While ultrasound services are provided monthly, there are plans to offer it weekly and, by year end, daily.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chair of Region One and Head of the Region’s Health Committee, Ms. Annansha Peters charged the staff at the hospital to continue to provide dedicated service.

She said the Government remains committed to ensuring that the hospital is properly equipped to deliver quality care.

X-ray Technician, Mr. Devon Vieira said he was beyond happy to finally put his training to use and to finally give additional support to his community.

“Today I feel so happy and excited being the first X-ray Technician in Moruca Sub-region; it’s a dream come through. I have been waiting on this a very long time because seeing that there was no x-ray technician in Moruca, Santa Rosa at the Kumaka District Hospital, I took the opportunity to go and train and I know a lot of patients will benefit from this service,” he said.

The x-ray machine was purchased using funds allocated to the Region in the last budget.