Full-time doctor, maternal services at $25M refurbished Better Hope health centre

A full-time doctor and other healthcare workers, in addition to a clinic for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, are among the services residents of the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) will be able to benefit from at the newly-refurbished Better Hope health centre.

This facility is located near the Rupert Craig Highway, commonly referred to as the public road, and the Better Hope community centre ground. The health centre was refurbished at a cost of $25 million after it was reportedly left in a state of disrepair for the past few years.

At the centre’s reopening on Monday, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony highlighted that a doctor, a pharmacist and other healthcare workers have already been assigned to the facility. There is a consultation room to allow residents to meet with the doctor on duty.

Importantly, Dr. Anthony also said, “… one of the key services that we will offer is to ensure that mothers and children can come here and get good maternal and child health services.”

It is also expected that pregnant and breastfeeding women will be able to get their routine checkups at this facility too.

While announcing the establishment of the clinic services for these women, the minister emphasised that pregnant women and new mothers are being increasingly affected by COVID-19. As such, he encouraged these people to get vaccinated, if they have not gotten vaccinated already.

And, as part of efforts to facilitate easier access to COVID-19 vaccines, Dr. Anthony also revealed that the Health Ministry is hoping to establish a permanent vaccination site at this health centre. In so doing, the Health Ministry would be required to install the necessary cold storage requirements to keep the vaccine doses at their required temperatures.

This health centre is expected to provide much-needed medical services to residents of the lower ECD area due to its convenient location. And, the Health Minister told the gathering of residents and officials that the facility must not be left unused.

“We want people to come out here and benefit from the service- all of it, and if you do that you will encourage us to constantly improve and expand,” he stated.