The Region Six health authority and the administration of the New Amsterdam Hospital are currently implementing alternative measures to deal with the ongoing water problems at the hospital.

In a telephone interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) hospital CEO Dr Vishwa Mahadeo said the water problems have been ongoing for some time. He said measures have been put in place to allow water to be pumped for storage and a reservoir is being built in the compound for additional storage.

According to GINA, the hospital has faced water shortages since its establishment. Mahadeo said Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) was informed about the issue several times and had tried to address it. He said the hospital does not have a direct connection to GWI’s main distribution line and GWI had resorted to pumping water three times daily from the main distribution line in the area. Water is also stored between 11 pm and 2 am each day. Additionally, the CEO said, the hospital is plagued by unstable electricity supply and the Guyana Power and Light Company is aware of this.

Mahadeo dismissed a report in the Monday edition of the Kaieteur News which stated that patients in Ward Four had staged a protest at the institution.