The residents of East La Penitence are now set to benefit from dental services with the handing over of two rooms by the US Army to the Ministry of Health at the East La Penitence Health centre yesterday.
At the handing over ceremony which was attended by Minister in the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsarran, members from the US Army and US Embassy officials, the collaboration between the ministry and the army was applauded.
Lieutenant Colonel Tod Furtado of the US Military Liaison Office, US Embassy said the handing over represented a win-win situation where it allowed the naval officers to develop their capabilities and for the community to benefit from the rooms which were much needed.
He added that the dental rooms contained the latest technology in dentistry and expressed the hope that the residents would be the beneficiaries of the new services.
Ramsarran in accepting the rooms said they would serve the community and help them to avoid travelling to Georgetown Hospital for medical aid. The centre was opened last year September and Ramsarran said it was a good sign that additional services were added so quickly. He said previously a dental technician would visit the health centre. However, with the creation of the new rooms, a technician trained at the Cheddi Jagan Dental School will be placed there.
To aid in the creation of the rooms, the waiting area was converted and Ramsarran gave his commitment to seeing that more projects were implemented to improve the services available in the area.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Junior Grade David Cazares said that the crew of 19 Navy Seabees have been in Guyana for the past two weeks and have undertaken three projects. The Seabees is comprised of skilled workers in various disciplines.
The projects which were identified based on community needs were done at the East La Penitence Health Centre, the Amerindian Hostel and Plaisance Community High School. At Plaisance, the team erected a 16 x 32 wooden building in the school compound which is aimed at easing congestion in the classrooms. The building can house up to 40 students
The rooms at the East La Penitence Health Centre took seven days to complete. He added that minor repairs were also done around the building. While at the Amerindian Hostel, he said that the team did plumbing and electrical installation. He said, “it’s nothing big but now you can actually use the bathroom, flick a switch and have lights.” The sailors from the HSV-2 Swift, not wanting to be left out, painted the front fence of the hostel.
The team leaves next week to undertake projects in Honduras.
