President Ali commits to its further enhancement – as Lethem Regional Hospital now a SMART facility

Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) residents will easily access quality healthcare
services as the Lethem Regional Hospital was on Friday recommissioned as a Smart Hospital
facility. The upgrading of the Regional Hospital is part of the “Smart Healthcare Facilities in the
Caribbean” project, funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development,
at a cost of $835 million (US$4.175 million).
President Irfaan Ali delivered the feature address at the facility’s recommissioning Friday
afternoon. He said the transition should not be only limited to the physical facility. “It goes
beyond the physical asset, the nice building, it talks about a system of administering a service
that is different from (what it) was prior. When we speak about this transition, it also requires a
smart approach to work and this is where the human factor comes in. We have to develop a new
culture in a way we administer health service,” the President said.
Dr Ali explained that every person working at the facility should understand his/her role and the
importance of providing quality services to all who seek it. “So, it is integrated flow from the
time you get to the hospital, to when you are administered service, and I want to urge the
management of the hospital to ensure that that flow level of service is there,” he noted. The
president committed to expanding the facility to further enhance the quality of services provided.
This, he said, will be part of the government’s plan to change how health services are offered and
accessed countrywide. “This Lethem hospital would have a further conversion. This phase will
be what we are going to build a modern facility here in Lethem, with the best surgical wings you
can find with good accommodation for patients. All this will happen in next five years,” the head
of state explained.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony said following the upgrades, the functions of the facility have
improved tremendously. “Our thrust is to make sure that in this region, we work hard to improve
the quality of services that we are offering…. all of which would create a better ambiance for
healing at this Lethem Hospital,” Dr Anthony said. The British High Commissioner to Guyana,
H.E Jane Miller and Resident of the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) in Guyana, Dr
Luis Codina committed to continued collaboration to strengthen Guyana’s health sector.
It was pointed out that this is the second hospital to be completed under the SMART Hospital
initiative. The Diamond Diagnostic Hospital in Region Four was recommissioned in April, 2021.
Other hospitals included in the project are the Leonora Diagnostic and Treatment Centre,
Mabaruma Regional Hospital and the Paramakatoi Health Centre. The health ministry added that
the ‘SMART Hospital’ concept refers to a health facility which provides standard and efficient
health care while at the same time being climate resilient.