The Health Ministry on Wednesday signed a Gy$113 million contract for the construction of an Acute Care and Psychiatric Hospital in New Amsterdam, Berbice along with the refurbishing of eight chalets.
Dr Ramsammy hands over the contract to a representative of Vishal Contracting Company in the ministry’s boardroom on Wednesday
The contract, which was signed in the ministry’s boardroom by Permanent Secretary Hydar Ally and Vishal Contracting Company will see the rehabilitation of eight chalets at the Fort Canje location for which Gy$20 million will be spent. These facilities house long- term residents.
Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, speaking before the formalities, said some Gy$100 million was spent over the years to upgrade these facilities that were abandoned prior to the early 1990s. Some Gy$7 million will be used to upgrade the compound. The funds to cover these works were cleared through a supplementary budget that was presented to the National Assembly recently. Some Gy$120 million was allocated for this purpose, he explained.
According to him, the facility upon completion will improve the delivery of mental health services. He added that it is being built to provide complex treatment and specialised care to the mentally ill.
But Dr Ramsammy insisted that improved physical structure is only part of the wider plan to ensure that this very vulnerable group receives the best care and treatment. In this regard, the minister revealed that 21 patient care assistants specially trained to work with psychiatric patients have been trained and will be working at the institution. These caregivers will be responsible for ensuring that inmates maintain proper hygiene, take their medication, and visit their medical doctor and the psychiatrist, as required.
In the meantime, eight nurses are about to complete a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners Programme and will be stationed at both the New Amsterdam and Georgetown Public Hospital Psychiatric Wards.
Dr Ramsammy told reporters that future batches will be placed at regional hospitals countrywide where the ministry intends to place acute care beds for persons in need of treatment.
The Health Ministry is also working aggressively to make the facility a community- friendly one by working with the community, private sector and others to revive the National Psychiatric Hospital Cricket Team and host community concerts, among other transformational projects.
The minister disclosed that there are also plans to resuscitate the playfield and establish a farm to produce vegetables for their meals.
“We are going to establish a permanent novelty shop. These patients make the best kind of novelty items, like tablecloth, wallets and other leather craft,” the minister added. He explained that all these things are part of a comprehensive treatment plan of art and occupational therapy.
The National Psychiatric Hospital was constructed in 1964 and was not maintained before 1990. Patients were forced to abandon the facility after it deteriorated.
