Region Four Health Centres soften stance on the unvaccinated

REGION FOUR HEALTHCARE AUTHORITIES HAVE RELAXED THE HIGHLY
CONTROVERSIAL RULE which bars unvaccinated persons from entering or receiving
treatment from public sector entities, a well-placed source told www.aroundtheregions.com on
conditions of anonymity.
The usually-reliable source said Demerara/Mahaica (Region Four) Regional Health Officer
(RHO), Dr Gavinash Persaud advised that “all persons, irrespective of whether they are
vaccinated or not should be allowed entry into the Region’s health centres,” to receive medical
attention.
The government is demanding, via gazetted order, that anyone entering its buildings must first
show proof of inoculation against the deadly corona virus. The measure has been receiving
pushbacks from state employees, especially from healthcare workers.
This week, Mr. Rudy Small, the highly controversial Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the
Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), ordered locking out unvaccinated nurses, creating a virtual
shutdown of the vital Upper Demerara/Berbice (Region Ten) healthcare facility located in the
mining municipality and capital, Linden.
Healthcare centres along the east bank corridor created chaos this week by implementing the
measure without prior disclosure to unsuspecting patients and residents, south of the capital,
Georgetown. There was a growing chorus of complaint from hapless and outraged citizens, and
Region Four authorities have responded to their cries.
“They told us to stop the issue of demanding (COVID-19) vaccination cards from persons
visiting the health centre immediately as whether persons are vaccinated or not, they must not be
denied entry at the health centre and this is for all the health centres in Region Four,” the source
explained.

“I wished if the government had held consultations with healthcare professionals on this issue,
before bringing it into regulations, as certainly the fears of dying as a result of the vaccine is not
as real as dying because of being denied medical attention,” a nurse speaking on the condition of
strict confidentiality noted.
Another recalled: “The sad thing is that when this COVID started, there was no vaccine, but we
were urged and, in some cases, pressured, to work and we did so with little or no complaints and
there was no issue. But now that a vaccine has arrived, instead of saying well you know persons
have at least two years to decide, they are forcing it down our throats without any consideration.
I wonder if the Government knew that it was the many promises that they made to healthcare
workers that saw many of them visiting for them!” the nurse queried.
Last Monday, scores of patients were turned away from Grove Health Centre on the East Bank
after they failed to produce their (COVID-19) vaccination cards. The elderly and the pregnant
condemned the new regulations calling them not only harsh and unfair, but discriminatory.
Some nurses were overcome when some patients needing urgent dental extractions had to be
turned away. Diabetics needing urgent attention, also suffered the same indignity.
The cumulative hardships faced by healthcare workers have forced some to contemplate leaving
the sector.
“Every day when I get home I am faced with a number of questions from my children, as they
are growing and are understanding what is happening. They are at secondary school and like
many secondary school children, seem puzzled and confused by all that is transpiring. I already
have my own family stress, my own economics stress, my work stress and now they are making
us to be seen as wicked and selfish within our communities as some of my neighbours are asking
me why we can’t give the people without their vaccination card a chance but I do not control the
system,” she said.
Some residents explained they were fully vaccinated, but didn’t have the vaccination card in
their possession. “Because of financial difficulties would be unable to return home for it,” was
among some of the reasons some patients proffered, the source said.

While they welcome the change of heart by the Region Four health authorities, healthcare
workers said the Ministry of Health should notify the public.
“They need to tell the public about the change of rule just like how they had initially
published that once you weren’t vaccinated you couldn’t enter the health centre. I don’t
know what the government is doing with regards to this issue, but it seems to me like a
dolly house and the sad part of it is that sooner than later we will see the devastating effects
of this nonsense,” the source declared.