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Since 2020, Region 3 (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara) has undergone significant improvements in healthcare delivery with the opening of five new rural health centers. These facilities, located in communities such as Wakenaam, Leguan, and other riverine areas, are part of a deliberate strategy to close longstanding gaps in access and ensure that modern healthcare is available to even the most remote populations. This initiative demonstrates the Guyanese Government’s commitment to equitable, people-centered development.
Previously, residents of Wakenaam and Leguan often had to endure long, sometimes risky boat journeys to reach the West Demerara Regional Hospital or clinics on the mainland. The new health centers mean services—including maternal care, vaccinations, management of chronic conditions, and basic emergency treatment—are now available closer to where people live. According to the Ministry of Health, over 15,000 people in Region 3 now benefit from this expanded local access (Ministry of Health, 2024). In Wakenaam alone, the local center now serves about 800 patient visits each month, reducing strain on central hospitals and delivering faster care.
These investments are not isolated achievements but are part of the Health Sector Strategy 2021–2025, which focuses on expanding primary care, decentralizing services, and strengthening the health workforce. To ensure the new centers are well-staffed, the government has introduced incentives to attract and retain nurses, medexes, and other professionals willing to serve in remote areas (Health Sector Strategy Report, 2023).
Partnerships have also played a key role. Collaborations with agencies like PAHO/WHO have supported better diagnostic capacity and reliable pharmaceutical supplies in rural clinics (PAHO Guyana Country Cooperation Strategy, 2022). Such improvements mean that communities long left behind now enjoy services once only available in urban centers.
These new health centers are more than buildings—they represent a new approach to governance that values inclusion, dignity, and the right to health for all. From planning to delivery, the focus has been on meeting people where they are, breaking down barriers of distance and inequality.
This is what real progress looks like: a promise fulfilled, lives improved, and a Region 3 that can now look forward to healthier, more secure futures.
The Guyana Project is an independent media platform delivering fact-checked, ground-level reporting on politics, economy, and public life in Guyana. With a focus on transparency and development, we bring unfiltered news and thoughtful analysis to help shape a more informed, forward-looking nation.
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