NEW $6.6B HOSPITAL IN BATH SETTLEMENT TO TRANSFORM REGION 5 HEALTHCARE DELIVERY
By Alethea Grant | HGP Nightly News
Residents of Region Five are poised to benefit from a significant upgrade in healthcare delivery following the commissioning of a $6.6 billion state-of-the-art hospital in Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.
The facility was officially opened by President Irfaan Ali, who declared that the hospital would match the quality of services provided by private medical institutions. He described the initiative as part of the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable healthcare access across all regions.
“This is what we’ve invested in here — a modern facility in Region Five — because you deserve equal care and equal treatment like any other region in this country,” the President said during his address.
A Major Leap Forward
The hospital features:
- Three Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds
- Three operating theaters
- A 24-hour Accident & Emergency Department
- An expanded laboratory capable of boosting services by over 40%
- Three ultrasound machines
- A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with capacity for four newborns
Before this facility, the region had no ICU or NICU access and limited diagnostic capabilities.
“Our mothers and newborn babies had zero access to neonatal care before. With this facility, you now have an NICU for four babies,” the President noted.
Holding Staff to High Standards
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who also addressed the gathering, emphasized that while the facility is equipped with cutting-edge technology, its success will depend on the quality of care delivered by medical staff.
“This institution is only going to be as strong and as good as the staff we have. We expect that you would give good service,” he told healthcare workers.
He also highlighted that existing hospitals in the region — such as Fort Wellington and Mahaicony Cottage Hospital — have struggled with space constraints and underdeveloped emergency services.
Toward a World-Class System
According to Dr. Anthony, the launch of the Bath hospital is part of a broader plan to move Guyana toward a world-class healthcare system, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
The government’s goal, he reiterated, is to create a healthcare infrastructure that is accessible, modern, and consistently high in quality — a goal that requires both capital investment and a culture of excellence within the sector.
