Tetanus Injections Unavailable at Health Centres

Feb 02, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

I write on the above caption on a matter of great sorrow to my heart and more so to the ordinary Citizens of Guyana who could face death, serious illnesses at our public medical hospitals and health centres.

I know for a fact that our government budgets tremendous amount of tax dollars for the supposed accident healthcare to our people especially to those who cannot afford to go to the private medical institutions. This lady that I am about to speak of could have died over the weekend from Friday 27^th January, 2023 to Monday 30^th January, 2023.

My aim also is to highlight the fact whether health centres should also operate on Saturdays to help and support the backbone of this country. Who are simple ordinary people who cannot afford the private medical care. I know that some cannot afford but that they will bleed their little resources that they have denying, themselves of other important facilities in order to get some help as it relates to their health.

On Friday 27^th January, 2023 a woman who definitely cannot afford private healthcare was bitten by a dog on her wrist. I was advised of this by a staff of mine and immediately made contact with the woman. And upon making contact with her she was asking for an antibiotic because she was feeling a discomfort in the area where she was bitten. I would not know whether it is psychological, by fear, or as a result of the bacteria in the area of the wound cause by the fangs of the German Shepherd. I immediately got excited as a human being and put things in place for her to visit the Better Hope Health Centre. Only to be told it would be closed by then. A point at this juncture would be to ask “do these health centres catering for the backbone of the nation, the ordinary simple people operate 8 to 4? “I have an issue with this. So I pray that in time our government, this government of care will consider extending the time to 6pm. And to operate at least until to 2pm on Saturdays.

Now that the health centre was closed, I made arrangements to get the woman to the Public Hospital and gave her a few bucks. Even provided my number for her to call me back. But she never contacted me by phone on the result of her treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Only when I saw her by chance on Saturday in the neighbourhood that she indicated that the Georgetown Public Hospital did not have Tetanus Injection. Well Government of Guyana, Honourable Minister of Health imagined that I flipped and became extremely upset! Annoyed!

As a complying taxpayer of this country and knowing that the government of this country is doing all that they can. That the administrators of Medical Drugs to the various healthcare institutions cannot administrate and communicate to ensure that there is no shortage of medication such as basic as tetanus injection. I have heard that many persons got bitten by snakes and the Public Healthcare Institutions do not have the anti-venom medication for snakebites. For a tropical country and an oil-producing country like Guyana and a country by a caring Government, as we have, we are being shortchanged by people in positions administering the distribution of medical equipment and drugs.

My information also was that she was told to return on Monday (30^th January, 2023) or go to the health centre. The lady went to the Health Centre. On Monday morning, she saw me, as she worked in the area where I live and told me that the health centre was not opened when she passed at 7am. As a human being, I dropped her back at the Health Centre and told her to go get register and wait in line. Only to be told about 8:15 that they have no tetanus injection in stock. I flipped again and I called the Health Centre and spoke with the pharmacist on duty at the time. The pharmacist was so kind and caring and said that she will call up a number of health centres in the area to see whether they have Tetanus Injections in stock. This pharmacist was so professional, helpful and courteous in the manner that she spoke and dealt with the situation that I could not take out the annoyance of the inefficiency of the Health Centre on her. I got a call later with some good news that the stock of Tetanus Injections had just arrived at the Health Centre! This is a professional pharmacist who needs to be recognised and applauded at that Better Hope Health Centre. I wish to thank her, and she said that she will now dispense the medication to that person.

I subsequently saw the victim later heading into to work in the area that I live and she told me that the tetanus injection was administered and that she had started to feel better. Hon. Minister Frank Anthony, I address you Sir, you are a great human being, you mean well for this country and the peoples of this country. It is obvious that your people in positions of authorities have let you down. Just as we know that millions of dollars in medical equipment and medical drugs are manipulated out of the drugs bonds that should be going to benefit the people.

Sincerely,

Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan.

• Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan, Health, Injections, Tetanus, Unavailable