Joel Primus

nylcolumnguardian@yahoo.com

Healthcare strains

Ask the average citizen their opinion on our local healthcare system and one would find a commonality in their sentiments even though it might be less than complimentary. This is as a result of a lack of confidence in the health sector in T&T.

Over the last few years, citizens have witnessed the decline in the provision of healthcare on many fronts. We have had repeated complaints with weeping and gnashing of teeth as a result of seemingly inefficient provision of a reliable health service.

In fact, there may have been statistics which suggest death due to negligence on the part of the medical fraternity as a result of poor healthcare.

Today, it seems as though the health sector is somewhat of a burden—too heavy to bear from every quarter. Doctors, nurses, administrators and politicians alike seem unwilling and incapable of holding the grips on the runaway health problems.

Importance of healthcare

It is our view that an efficient and reliable health service is critical towards this nation’s quest in achieving developed country status. Moreover, as a country rich in natural gas and oil as well as a heavy industrialised sector and booming tourist industries to name a few, we believe that a matching health system is imperative.

In addition, as citizens we are well aware of the wealth generating capacity of our twin island republic and, as such, its citizens deserve the best standards in healthcare possible.

The current effort to bring such service to fruition could well translate into another of government’s initiatives aimed at spreading the wealth of the land to its people.

In our view, no nation can boast of developed country status as long as its healthcare remains in shambles. At this critical juncture, the blame could be placed upon several shoulders and the puzzle as to who fail who could be pieced together.

The PNM Government we know has the wherewithal to address issues on many fronts in the nation’s development. Whilst many have sought to deal with Caroni 1975 Ltd by lip service, it left a PNM administration the onus of taking the bull by the horn.

The health sector is another such example. Obviously, the critics and detractors would have another theory but as youth we understand fully that such is an entitlement enshrined in the Constitution. We therefore encourage that those so inclined utilise this right fully.

Attempts to address certain shortfalls in the health system were undertaken before. However, the process was not fully seen through.

Many today agree that the regional health authorities have not entirely achieved their objectives, as such, this system is up for review.

Annually, the national budget for health has increased, the latest figure for current fiscal period being in excess of $2 billion. Yet cries and health woes continue unabated. We have heard, seen and witnessed as citizens, and of our own accounts, of the failings of our nation’s health system.

There have been reports ranging from inadequate utilities/equipment, non-functional equipment, space, medication, staffing and a host of other issues.

To date, the Government has taken a number of commendable steps towards the improvement of the health system in T&T.

Training and recruitment

Firstly, as a means of addressing the shortage in healthcare professionals, the Health Ministry sought to recruit doctors and nurses from Cuba, Philippines and UN to work in our local health system. This done whilst a total of 512 nursing students begin training through Costaatt. An additional 160 commence training in the basic training programme for nurses.

Along with this was the introduction of a patient care assistant programme which will see a total of 2,000 assistants trained and recruited to assist nurses at various health institutions.

These notable efforts were strengthened further through enrolment of 30 nurses in the UWI certificate programme in nursing education, as well as 15 physicians trained in the primary care and family medicine diploma programme.

Infrastructure and hospitals

S imultaneously, the upgrade and refurbishment of 14 health centres at the cost of $32 million, with construction of three new facilities now under way at La Brea, Gasparillo and Williamsville are some of Government’s initiatives aimed at improving primary healthcare.

Additionally, the Scarborough Hospital in Tobago speaks to the holistic drive to return healthcare to an acceptable level in our twin island republic. The newest seat of industrialisation, Point Fortin, will see construction of a new hospital shortly.

Recently, a new surgical and orthopaedic suite comprising 105 beds was commissioned at the San Fernando General Hospital.

In Port-of-Spain the ministry reopened four refurbished operation theatres which will aid in reducing the backlog in surgeries.

Elective surgery

The backlog in surgeries has and continues to be a serious matter for concern as it is really the poor and underprivileged citizens who are made to suffer and even die as a result in delays.

The Government designed a programme in partnership with the private sector to eliminate this problem.

Today, in excess of 3,000 people would have benefited from a range of surgeries, inclusive of cataract, hernia, fibroids, angiograms, cardiac, orthopedic and plastic surgeries as a result of this programme. However, a lot more is required in arresting this situation which evidently was left unattended for a considerable period of time.

It is imperative that the Government continue in the present direction and I would like to take the opportunity to commend John Rahael for a job well done thus far as Minister of Health.

As youth, we are also of the view that a non-medical minister of health would do well in health.

We will attempt to look at some of the critical areas that any government should focus on in our continuing article.

Contact NYL with comments at nylcolumnguardian@yahoo.com or Editorial Committee, National Youth League, Balisier House, #1 Tranquillity St, Port-of-Spain.

Joel Primus is chairman of the PNM’s National Youth League