Health care in Guyana

Health Care in Guyana 

Georgetown Public Hospital

Guyana, a country of no mean order fought for its independence in the year 1966 May 26, Forbes Burnham, one of the founder fathers of this country’s independents who also played a great and important role in making independence a reality stated, in his speech on the night of May 26, "The days ahead are going to be difficult…” As predicted this country did face difficulties and still is ,many of these difficulties we face are resonated with the Health sector of this country but it is important that we as Guyanese experience proper health care at every level that it is delivered.  

What is proper health care? Or who has proper health care?, we might not be able to find a health care system without challenges and difficulties or to even fit rightfully the words “Proper health care” or even come up with a one size fit all definition, even though Brazil according to the W.H.O (World health organization) has one of the best health care systems, I am sure that it is still not adequate and is still to be a level playing field for everyone, so ill define the words in the statement “Proper Health Care” to ascertain a better understanding of the terminology.   

Proper is defines by the oxford dictionary as, to be the required type, Suitable, or appropriate. Heath care is defined by the on line dictionary as, the “maintenance and improvement of physical and mental health, especially through the provision of medical services”.  

So proper health care is a suitable, and appropriate health care system that is aimed at maintaining and improving health in all its forms by providing medical services of the required type.  

Health is everything, no country weather dependent of independent can survive without a proper health care system, the health of the nation affects the work force; and it is the same for Guyana , it is from the population  that the greater part of the work force of this country has emerge.  People who were born here, grow here and even the mass number who has chosen to stay here and largely make use of the health care provided by the country (a visit to the GPHC will confirm that) these people are the driving force of this economy and the productivity of this country, hence the importance of having health care system set up and working properly so that the citizens can be looked after effectively when they fall sick or to prevent sickness. 

When citizens fall sick and there is not a proper health care system, people will be sick for longer periods and more persons can get sick, especially if the disease or ailment is transferable, if persons don’t go to work the work can’t get done even the machinery that is being invested in by many industries and companies has to have humans working with them to control and guide them. 

It is important for Guyana to have proper progressive health care system because in it absence citizens will be less trusting in the Government and a lack of trust in government can bring about a high migration rate or vote lost at elections (something Guyana politicians are very careful of). DR Norton the Health minister, stated that the existing problem with the Matron most be dealt with fort wit and immediately since the other personnel had signed a petition for her removal stating that she is not supportive of progress. 

Progress means new working systems better health care in faster time, more efficient equipment and health personnel to support the doctors and get the job done in service to the public, if this is not present then the health care system is inevitably heading as in the direction of a crashing plain.      

     

Proper health care is important in Guyana to sustain its population, we will get sick, people’s hearts will attempt to stop beating, diabetes will hold on to some families or individuals, even cancer will remain a “Plague” for the foreseeable future, people need assurance to know that despite the presence of these sickness they can still live to retirement, What if everyone died of one sickness or another before they reach retirement age, what if HIV positive person could not bring fort babies that are not positive, what if Guyana was a country that does not provide care for dengue, or yellow fever, I can’t imagine a country that does not have a “proper” health care system that country could eventually vanish or exist as a much needed bread basket that has to always be filled by foreign aids.   

Despite Proper health care is practically far-fetched in Guyana, as inevitability obvious based on the definition, and the health care challenges we face are still to be addressed in a conclusive way, we hope for a better, brighter tomorrow, a country that will atlas give to its citizens what could be returned to it as a means of its sustenance, and productivity at every level, hence it is important that we as Guyanese experience proper health care at every level that it is delivered.