Health Minister commissions ‘transformative’ upgrades at Port Kaituma Hospital

Minister of Health,  Dr Frank Anthony, on Friday officially commissioned a suite of major infrastructural upgrades at the Port Kaituma Hospital, marking a historic leap in healthcare accessibility for residents in Region One (Barima-Waini).

Through a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and plaque unveiling, the Minister inaugurated five critical facilities designed to provide specialised care in the area. The newly commissioned units represent a strategic investment in diagnostic, surgical and maternal health.

These new facilities include the following:

• Modern Operating Suite: Fully equipped for both emergency and elective surgeries, significantly reducing the dependency on patient transfers to Georgetown.

• Digital X-Ray Unit: Integrated with telemedicine connectivity, allowing for real time specialist reviews and high precision diagnostics.

• Maternal and Child Health Building: A dedicated space for specialized pediatric and maternal services.

• Maternity Waiting Home: A vital intervention providing accommodation for expectant mothers from remote communities to ensure supervised and safe deliveries.

• Vector Control Centre: A specialized hub to bolster the fight against malaria and other communicable diseases.

As part of his keynote address, the Minister emphasised that these upgrades address long-standing service gaps. “The introduction of the digital x-ray and localised surgical capacity ensures that a resident’s geography no longer dictates the quality of their care,” he said.

The Health Minister also noted that the Maternal and Child Health Building is a cornerstone of the national strategy to achieve zero maternal deaths, providing a safety net for women in the most remote areas of the region.

Beyond infrastructure, the Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to several areas, including:

• Communicable Disease Elimination: Intensified efforts to eradicate malaria, filaria, chagas disease, leishmaniasis and leprosy.

• Human Resource Development: Expanding the local workforce by training community health workers and medexes directly within regional communities.

• Patient Centered Care: Calling for healthcare providers to pair these new tools with “professionalism, empathy, and kindness,” noting that respect is as fundamental to healing as equipment.