In an effort to extend and provide quality health services inclusive of free dental and eye care in the Pomeroon River and the Barima/Waini area, the Health Ministry on Monday commissioned a spanking new multi-million-dollar dental boat in Region Two.
The commissioning coincided with the launch of Oral Health Month. The boat is named Lady J in honour of the late Janet Jagan, the country’s first health minister and president of Guyana. It will provide oral health care to all residents living in the Pomeroon and riverine areas of Region One, Barima/Waini.
Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy cuts the ribbon to officially commission the dental boat
Addressing scores of residents at the commissioning ceremony at the Charity waterfront, Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy said Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean and one of the few in the world that has an aquatic oral health-care service.
He said the state-of-the-art dental boat is a testimony of the government’s commitment towards providing efficient and quality oral health care services to every Guyanese living in the region.
Minister Ramsammy also singled out Janet Jagan, wife of President Cheddi Jagan as the country’s best health minister.
He said she started the construction of the health centres across the country to provide health care to all Guyanese, “there were only 90 centres in those days where persons could have accessed health care, today we have 400 centres throughout Guyana”.
The minister said the dental boat will also serve as a special ambulance along the rivers to bring emergency cases to the Charity Hospital. The boat is equipped with sophisticated dental equipment and two dental chairs.
“As we commission this dental boat and launch Oral Health Month, we dedicate the health boat to the people. Guyana is on the front runner in the Caribbean in terms of dental health and the commissioning is a testimony. We at the ministry will continue to provide the various health services inclusive of eye care free to Guyanese people, we will continue to send persons to train in the fields also,” Dr Ramsammy stated.
The minister also pledged a full-time dental technician to work on the boat. He said the ministry will also provide doctors, dentists, and orthopedic surgeons so that frequent outreaches can be carried.
Ramsammy said Guyanese should look with pride to the development that is taking place in providing oral health-care across the country. He said Guyanese should also be proud of their country, because it is one of the few countries that have its own dental school. He noted that some 40 students are currently in training at the Cheddi Jagan Dental School and the aim of the government is to make sure that every administrative region has sufficient dentists.
