Health Minister – Venezuelan migrants can access health services at Port Kaituma

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said that systems are now in place for Venezuelan migrants
to access medical services at the Port Kaituma District Hospital. He said that this is following a
recent government outreach to the Anabisi, Barima-Waini (Region One).
Dr Anthony made this disclosure during Monday’s COVID-19 update. He went on to explained
that persons from the community have been identified to liaise with the regional health officers
and the hospital to access the services. “If they have any medical challenges, they will be able to
sort them out very quickly. They don’t have to wait on an intervention like this. They now have a
systematic way if they have any problems, that they can come to the Port Kaituma hospital and
get access to medical service,” Dr Anthony said.
The health minister accompanied by other ministers of government, along with a medical team
on Saturday visited the Region One community to provide medical care and assess the needs in
response to reports of the circumstances migrants are facing. He disclosed that reports indicate
some 198 persons from 25 families have settled in the area, located approximately 15 minutes
from Port Kaituma. Minister Anthony stressed that the medical team examined 20 children on
Saturday.  He said that the children were treated for skin rashes, upper respiratory and diarrhoeal
diseases. Dr Anthony revealed that four children were taken to the Port Kaituma Regional
Hospital for further medical treatment.  He noted that another medical team returned on Sunday
to continue examining the migrants.
Minister Anthony pointed out that in addition to providing healthcare services, measures are
being put in place to ensure that the migrants are living in a clean and sanitary environment. “So,
because of the unhygienic conditions, they’re using the same water from the river and they’re
using the river to wash and do other things there. So, the water is not of good quality and what
we were able to do on Sunday, we gave them some what is called jerry cans which have filters in
them so when they take the water from the river, they can do some level of filtration … which
will help to purify the contaminated water, making it better for them to drink and which will
prevent some of the diarrhoeal disease that they are experiencing…,” he explained. Minister
Anthony continued, “In addition to that, a senior health environmental officer would have
explained to them how to dispose of their garbage and to work with them to find an area next to
the community where they can dispose of their garbage. We also worked with them to find a
suitable area where they can set up toilets and so forth so that they are not defecating in the same
water that they’re using to drink.” The minister said that mosquito nets for hammocks will also
be distributed to the migrants, so that they may have some protection from vector borne diseases.
He said that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has distributed hampers containing essential
items and food. Health minister declared that the Guyana Government remains committed to the
humane management of the migrant situation stemming from the socio-economic situation in
neighbouring Venezuela.