I was appalled to hear the announcement by the Minister of Health that Cabinet approved the construction of a diagnostic Center at the Sangre Grande Hospital at the cost of $100 million.It begs the question: how many of the Cabinet Ministers have ever visited this hospital? I had the opportunity to frequent this health facility since January 15, 2014, as my brother-in-law was warded there following a myocardial infarction. The treatment was excellent, the wards clean with no smell of sickness and death. The staff polite, patient friendly and efficient.
What the Minister is proposing is nothing short of gross insult and injustice to the staff and people who use this facility.
Here is the problem:
This hospital is a hotchpotch of early last century buildings expanded by a larger number of 20ft and 40ft shipping containers adjoining these original buildings. These containers are utilised as clinics, offices and treatment centres.
There are no specialist resident consultants at this hospital, not even a cardiologist.
This hospital is overcrowded. Patients from Grande, Manzanilla, Mayaro, Guayaguayare, Cedros, Icacos and environs seek medical attention at this hospital.
The Government needs to locate a parcel of land and construct a new state of the art hospital and relocate all services and staff to a new facility that offers specialist consultancy services.
R Ackbarali
Petit Bourg