Speeches in the National Assembly

APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENCE OF ILLNESS AND DEATHS IN THE BARIMA-WAINI REGION OF GUYANA
Minister of Amerindian Affairs [Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai]: In response to the request for the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry to enquire into the illness and death of persons and to make recommendation to prevent a reoccurrence of such illness and death and to preserve the well-being of the residents of the Barima-Waini Region, I wish to first put on record that the unfortunate situation of outbreak of gastro-enteritis and death of three children associated with the illness outbreak was indeed unfortunate and is deserving of concerns and full sympathies to the families.
I wish to recall that from  the onset of the illness outbreak in late January of this year the local and regional health officials, the front line staff,  provided the surveillance, the monitoring and the treatment in the early phase. I wish to ask this question: Is the Leader of the Opposition saying that he has no confidence in the trained regional medical personnel of the sub-district or is the Hon. Member Mr. David Granger, deliberately want to overlook their contribution while he attempts to carve out for himself a political profile as the defender of the population of Region  1? I leave that question for the public to determine.
The Government recognises the work of the local health care providers since it was those workers that kept the data flowing, allowing for monitoring of the rise, the peaks, in the gastro-enteritis outbreak affecting the residents in the communities and guiding the timely dispatch of a  competent team of health practitioners  coupled with a multi-agency technical team who, on their arrival, immediately collaborated with the local health personnel in the sub-district and provided to the affected population an early response to specialist support assessment, community meetings to advance public health awareness and activities, so as to stop the situation from escalating. The combined team of medical professionals was able to control and deliver the necessary support and took control and managed the situation and the responsiveness in averting a worst situation or a worst result. The health sector response is aligned to Government’s responsibility and willingness to adequately provide health care to the population at large. Where the limitation exists, there is no hesitation by this Government or the health sector to address the need.
Members of the National Assembly should be well aware that over the last two decades the increasing level of financial allocation for investments towards developing a sustained and expanding health system in Guyana engages annually the deliberation of the National Assembly and with greatest of respect visible improvements in the health service delivery service systems have been achieved. The impact for the hinterland region is demonstrated by the full transformation of what obtained prior to the PPP/Civic administration in the health sector. The regional health system expanded to bring benefits to the most remote of communities, training of indigenous health works to administer and deliver primary health care to villages and communities have been a success.
It is important to note how appreciative members of communities are to be in control and in management of their own regional health system. The investment and the resultant improvements of health infrastructure are visible located in more than 99% of hinterland villages and communities. The investments are fully supported by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and implemented by regional administrators. It is also a fact that Guyana health sector does not suffer from the lack of medical drugs and supplies. The challenge facing the regional health system is with the dispatch of the medical drugs in a smooth and timely manner. The Government recognises that gap which exists in the delivery system. Of course, this required much more effort and collaboration to ensure that available resources are adequately directed to improving and making the drug delivery system to the hinterland more effective, eradicating the isolated complaints that surface from time to time.
Without a doubt the developing and improving health delivery system impacted positively across the nation and it included Region 1, Region 7 and Region 8. It was indeed unfortunate and distasteful to be a witness to the robust budget debate in defence of an allocation for the establishment of Guyana to have the opportunity to experience a specialty medical hospital. Of course, we all know the result that this allocation was disapproved by the House by the combined vote of the Opposition. We cannot have fork-pronged tongues when we are talking about the health of this nation. I posit that the report presented by the Ministry of Health…
Mr. Speaker: One second please.
Mr. Greenidge: Mr. Speaker, am I not right in thinking that the funding of the specialty hospital is supposed to have been on the basis of an Indian letter of credit? The Point of Order is to assume that the moneys, which were taken, could themselves have accounted for the fact that there is not specialty hospital. Specialty hospital, in any case, is supposed to be funded with the Indian funds that were part of the dispute.
Mr. Speaker: What the Minister did say was that the combined Opposition did not vote funds to support the specialty hospital, which would be a fact. The reasons would be as you stated, but the Minister is not incorrect in stating that the House did not approve the specialty hospital.
Mrs. Campbell-Sukhai: I posit that the report presented by the Ministry of Health’s team reported on findings of the probable causes of the outbreak and offered recommendations for action to be implemented to avert future occurrences. The actions taken by the health authorities contained the outbreak to a few communities within the Matarkai subregion. Similarly, one Amerindian village, that of Sebai, recorded a total of 45 cases. It is noted that Amerindians living in the other affected communities were among the affected population and, therefore, they were all provided with preventative supplies and treatments. The experience and the effectiveness of the actions by both the national and regional teams served to strengthen the health system to respond likewise to similar situation in the future, if necessary. However, I am confident that the multi-sectoral and other stakeholders note that lesson and spare no efforts to strengthen and heighten surveillances across the various sectors, water and sanitation, infrastructure and facilities, the environment, including reliable health services delivery across our country. It would be remiss of me not to mention the role and the responsibility of the population, villages, and community leaders must all work to encourage mind set attitudes and promote healthy lifestyle practices. The challenge is not the sole responsibility of the State nor the neighbour, but it is the responsibility of all. 
The long-term approach to the issues of sanitation, good hygiene habits, rendering safe water to families at household levels, from the individuals, leaders and sectors, is needed to ensure positive impact on the total health of our population. The recommendations articulated in the report submitted by the health team dealt with the situation. This was shared with Cabinet and the public through community meetings and the media, more particularly the television, and it demonstrated that there was a combined contribution to arresting the situation. The transparency and accountability to the public were ever present.
I rest my case  that the concerns expressed by the Leader of the Opposition does not warrant the establishment of Commission of Inquiry, but it warrants the support of all Guyanese towards ensuring a healthier Guyana.
Thank you. [Applause]