Health workers want abrasive RHO removed

HEALTH WORKERS reject Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony’s recent statements praising
the work of Dr Steven Cheefoon, Regional Health Officer (RHO) at Barima/Waini, (Region
One).
Some health workers in the interior community are challenging Dr Anthony to appear in person
in Region One to get first-hand information about Cheefoon who they want removed
immediately.
“Something is wrong and we (health care professionals) working in Region One are woefully
disappointed that from a few posts and maybe some nice words being used by the RHO that it is
concluded that he is doing a good job in the Region,” some aggrieved healthcare professionals
told www.aroundtheregions.com
“We are demanding that Minister Anthony and a team visit this Region to speak to us, the
affected health care professionals so that he can better understand what is taking place,” they
said.
For them, Anthony’s evaluation of Cheefoon was overrated.
“This man was like God. He had so much of power and the minister doesn’t have to take our
word just check the records and evidence that many persons have collected. We are determined
that we don’t want Dr Cheefoon anymore in the Region as the RHO and this has to change not
later, but now,” they demanded.
“This man has made several people cry. He was one who along with the then REO (Regional
Executive Officer), Mr. Randy Storm made peoples’ lives a living hell. They transferred and sent
home and are now covered under the pretext and assumptions of the Minister of Health that he is
performing, something is definitely wrong with our system,” one female nurse said sobbing
inconsolably.

Several healthcare workers in the Region accuse Dr Cheefoon of motivations rooted in political
spite affecting both senior and junior Region One workers.

For instance, Cheefoon threatened to relieve Nurse Lovern Sam of her duties when she
intervened when another staff was unjustly sent home.
“Nurse Sam like any professional had raised her voice in condemnation and instead of seeking to
correct the matter, Dr Cheefoon made public threats to have her sent home,” some health
workers told this publication.
They also claimed that Dr Cheefoon used his religious convictions to demote two female
doctors, Junita Holmes and Sheuretta Dowding, and replace them with junior male doctors
because for him, women must not be leaders.
The doctors are still hurt over that incident and the scant regard for their welfare shown by the
then Ministry of Public Health.
Health care professionals Nurse Lorraine Gilks and Daniel Roberts also faced the unjustified
wrath of RHO Dr Cheefoon when both contracted the contagious and deadly COVID-19 virus
and self-isolated according to Guyana’s public health regulations.
Gilks said Cheefoon publicly humiliated her numerous times for standing up for employees.
“This is a man who openly and without any attempt to curb his words publicly made statements
that were humiliating and disrespectful to Amerindians and to date over five months after a
change of administration he remains in the same position where he has created havoc and ruined
many peoples’ lives. We will not stop fighting until the President and other senior Government
officials listens to us.”