Debt write-off and drafting LHC blueprint major four-month accomplishment for new CEO

NEGOTIATING a $20M debt write-off and crafting the blueprint to guide the future of the
Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) Inc. are signature accomplishments for new Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) Mr. Rudy Small.
Small, now in his first four months on the job, recalled these successes during a live broadcast on
National Communications Network (NCN Linden). He told his audience that confronting this
huge deficit on the first days on the job, was a major challenge.
“When I took over on November 2, 2020 the first challenge was the hospital’s deficit of $20M.
My very first task was to get that debt retired. We could not go into 2021 with that debt tied
around our necks. Fortunately, I was able to make the case to the Minister of Health (Dr Frank
Anthony and the Permanent Secretary (Mr. Malcolm Watkins) and we were fortunate in having
the debt retired,” CEO Small recalled.
He and his team then set about designing the blueprint to fulfil the government’s policies for the
Upper Demerara – Berbice (Region Ten) health sector.
“We then set about in putting together a developmental plan which is in keeping with the
mandate of government because the Minster advised me that one of the most important things
that he wanted me to do was to ensure that quality health care is brought to Region Ten. So that
is what we are set about seeking to do,” Small said during the televised programme.
The CEO spoke about a number of plans included in the 2021 budget which he had shared with
this media house, www.aroudtheregions.com in a previous interview. He promised that once
those plans are approved, Lindeners can expect to see a number of transformational changes at
the LHC.
He disclosed that the recent presentation of an Ultrasound Machine by the President of Guyana,
His Excellency Ifraan Ali to the Kwakwani Hospital is historical as it marks the first time in
Kwakwani hospital’s history that they are having their own Ultrasound machine. The CEO noted
that development at the LHC, Kwakwani and Ituni hospitals are on an aggressive path this year,
declaring that transformational development is high on the agenda.

“As you are aware the President presented an Ultra Sound machine, a boat and an engine to the
Berbice River recently and that Ultra Sound machine is for Kwakwani hospital which marks it
the first time that Kwakwani hospital getting a Ultra Sound machine and we are very grateful to
his Excellency for making that donation,” he said.
He reminded that with his mandate in place he intends to fulfil the agenda of the Minister of
Health in ensuring that the quality of health care provided at the Kwakwani Hospital is on par
with what hospitals on the Coastland offer.
“We are working right now on medical outreaches. We want to take Linden Hospital to those
riverine communities to ensure that on routine bases high quality medical are available to them,
so medical outreaches are being planned. We are working on one for late February or early
March where we will take doctors from Linden Hospital to those communities for a few days,”
he said.
Small disclosed that one of the primary projects will be improvement to their electricity
generation capacity back up the number of new equipment acquired which includes a digital X-
ray system. “At present the X Ray that we use is an analogue system, so if we secure a digital
system, we can have more efficiency to improve the healthcare delivery in Linden,” Small
explained.
Small went on to state that the LHC will now be on the e-Gov, thus drastically improving its
internet connectivity. This, he said is critically important as it creates an opportunity for them to
get into telemedicine.
“Our patients in Linden can be seen to answer questions, thus allowing for a full consult to be
done online via GPHC or even internationally as with significant bandwidth there are so many
enhanced medical services that will be achieved as we strive to make LHC the best Regional
Hospital,” he said.
An infectious disease specialist has complemented the LHC staff making the LHC more
independent, Small boasted.