Health Ministry reports…
Favourable response to new programme for drug addicts
THE Ministry of Health has announced that, following the opening of the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), it has commenced a structured relapse prevention programme (SRPP) for drug addicts.

A release said the SRPP started last July 15 and, to date, the response has been favourable.

The release said the SRPP is an out-patient substance use treatment concept that is new to Guyana.

It is an approach to out-patient drug counselling that uses cognitive behavioural treatment to help clients learn the coping skills they need to deal with day-to-day substance use, triggers and risk situations, the release said.

The statement explained that the SRPP is utilised as a stand alone out-patient intervention of between eight to 12 sessions, with a set of tools as needed when working with persons who are ambivalent about changing their substance use.

The SRPP is focused on tailoring treatment approaches to meet the needs of diverse addict client populations and harm reduction approaches.

According to the statement, of particular importance is meeting the needs of clients with concurrent mental health and substance issues and development and dissemination of best practice principles and guidelines.

In addition, SRPP counselling is designed for people who have moderate to severe substance use problems and are willing to work, on an out-patient basis with a counsellor, toward changing their use of alcohol, among other things.

The statement explained that the main therapeutic tool used during the SRPP sessions is motivational interviewing and the ministry is building capacity by training more trainers of trainers in all regions.

It said this will facilitate the establishment of additional SRPPs so that they can be executed not only at GPH but extended into the prison system.

The ministry said the extension into jails will be done in collaboration with the current ongoing efforts of affiliates from the Phoenix Recovery Project.

Meanwhile, the therapeutic sessions held on Tuesdays at GPH, from 15:30 h to 17:30 h weekly, facilitate afflicted substance users to become a part of the SRPP network. (Vanessa Narine)

What the people say
Higher bus fares are unfair
Recently, operators of the public transportation system arbitrarily increased their fares, amidst discussions with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and despite a mutual agreement that they will be granted an increase if the price of gasoline exceeds $1000. Gasoline at the time of the increase was being sold at $980 per gallon and still is.

The Government Information Agency solicited the views of ordinary Guyanese on the increased minibus fares.

Sheldon Jittens

Abigail Baveghems

Abzal Fazal

Toressa George

Monty Johnson

Sasenarine Ramgobin

Sherwin James

Region Two sub-committees preparing for CARIFESTA X
THE CARIFESTA X Planning Committee in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) has formed several sub-committees, with the focus on making preparations for the first super concert on August 23 at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.

A release from the Regional Administration said, in collaboration with the Anna Regina Town Council, work is in progress to make the township attractive for the event.

Preparations are also ongoing at Anna Regina Community Centre ground where a massive stage in under construction.

Meanwhile, the five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) have started to clear drains, weed parapets and brighten villages.

Simultaneously, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will be removing all derelict vehicles, illegal fences, sand, earth and other obstacles from along the main roadway.

Recently, Regional Chairman Alli Baksh warned persons to do similarly with encumbrances on the road shoulders and the municipality called on citizens to stop dumping garbage there.

Rice farmer takes MMA/ADA to Court over land
NARINE Ramlochan is seeking an injunction to restrain the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) from dispossessing him of 23,4797 acres of land at West Coast Berbice.

But, when attorney-at-law Mr. Moses Nagamootoo made the ex parte application on behalf of the plaintiff yesterday, Justice Brassington Reynolds ordered that service of the summons be effected on the respondent and postponed further hearing to August 12.

Ramlochan is claiming:
* a declaration that he is entitled to all rights of occupation, use and continued undisturbed possession of the land at Tempie;

* another declaration that the acts of the defendant to re-possess the plot of State land is in violation of his legal rights and interests and are unlawful;

* an injunction restraining the defendant, whether by itself, its servants and/or agents from dispossessing him of the use and occupation of the place;

* damages in excess of $50,000 for breach of the parcel and

* profit at the rate of $2,300,000 per crop from the date of possession of the acreage until it is returned to him.

In his affidavit, Ramlochan swore that his father, Ramlochan Roopnarine, deceased, was a well-known rice farmer for more than 50 years and cultivated the plot originally consisting of 20 acres, under licence.

The son said he worked alongside his father to clear trees and bush to ‘break in’ the land and, after the latter died, he continued continuous occupation, use and possession of the plot as the successor and heir under the same licence.

In keeping with constitutional reform…
Speaker handed Auditor General 2006 report
THE report of the Auditor General, on the Public Accounts of Guyana for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, was presented to Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran yesterday.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran (at left) receives the Auditor General Report on the Public Accounts of Guyana for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, from Acting Auditor General, Mr. Deodat Sharma yesterday. (Photo by Adrian Narine)

Ramkarran accepted the compendium which includes the accounts of ministries, departments and the Administrative Regions.

He said it was formerly the responsibility of the Finance Minister to receive it on behalf of the Government but, under the new constitutional arrangement, the Speaker of the House takes charge of it.

“So this is in addition to all the other reforms which have been carried out both to the Auditor General’s Department, making it an autonomous agency within the State structure and those in the National Assembly, as regards the Public Accounts Committee,” Ramkarran explained.

He said: “But, more particularly, the establishment of other committees and the expansion of the Committees Division of the National Assembly to serve these committees attest to the transparency and accountability which was developed during the past few years in relation to the Public Accounts of Guyana.”

Ramkarran also noted that there are additional factors, such as the reports which the Ministry of Finance must present to the National Assembly within a certain time, after receiving and studying that of the Public Accounts Committee.

He said the compilation by the Public Accounts Committee is published and tabled in the National Assembly, published and discussed at length.

That Committee is headed by People’s National Congress Reform - One Guyana (PNCR-1G) Member of Parliament, Ms. Volda Lawrence.

“It is served with equal competence by members of both the Government and the Opposition,” Ramkarran remarked, declaring that he is pleased to see the degree of transparency and accountability which has grown and developed in Guyana over the past few years.

The documentation at the centre of yesterday’s formality is expected to be laid in the House, as a public document, by August 7 before Parliament goes into recess on August 10.

Sharma said, normally, it is due on September 30 the following year but the Audit Office was not able to meet that deadline because of staff constraints.

“Also the Ministry of Finance is required to produce a statement by April 30. In this case, they had some problems and they were not able to do so,” he stated.

“So that, among other things, made the delay in my presentation but we are working towards trying to meet that deadline of September 30 in the future,” Sharma assured.

“The 2007 report is due September 30 this year. We have already started working towards that and I am hoping to make the deadline but I still have my staff constraints,” he said.

Sharma said the authorised staff strength is 223 but, presently, there are only 108 persons.

He said, this year, a request was made to recruit 35 more to enable the office to meet the deadlines.

GPSU pledges support to retired members grouping
GUYANA Public Service Union (GPSU) yesterday pledged support for the efforts of retired members who wish to remain active.

The commitment was given at the launch of the Retired Members Association at GPSU Headquarters, Regent Road and New Garden Streets, Georgetown.

"Our retired members comprise headteachers, former senior public servants from the length and breadth of Guyana, physically and mentally active people, some whose membership dates back to the days of the Civil Service Association (CSA),” said GPSU Vice-President, Mr. Herman DeSouza.

He said they want to continue their association and GPSU has given the supportive pledge.

The gathering included about two dozen persons, mainly from Georgetown and one from Essequibo.

Those present said they are to agree on a name for the grouping, its functions and ways and means of extending membership to others residing in outlying areas.

Health Minister visits kidney transplant patient
Nineteen days after the historic kidney transplant was conducted on him, 18-year-old Lusignan youth Munesh Mangal, yesterday told Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, that he is feeling much better and is recovering well.

Minister Ramsammy with donor Leelkumarie Mangal and her son Munesh, in hammock.

When the Government Information Agency (GINA) visited the Mangals at their relatives’ home in Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, Munesh was resting in a hammock. Minister Ramsammy, in his interaction with the teenager, urged him to take his medication as he should.

Munesh’s mother informed Minister Ramsammy that her son is to return to the hospital tomorrow for a check.

The successful surgery that lasted about seven hours was done by a United States based team of surgeons. Senior Transplant Surgeon attached to the Walter Reed Army \Medical Centre, Dr Rahul Jindal, committed to transferring the team’s skills to local medical practitioners. Dr Jindal also mentioned the possibility of persons going to the United States of America and receiving treatment as well, but noted that this would have to go through the process of a Government bilateral arrangement.

Local surgeons are expected to take over the reins to perform kidney transplants after the next five operations which are scheduled to be done in Guyana by the same team that conducted the first one.

Five persons have been recommended for kidney transplant to be done locally, and preliminary work has already been done on two of them who have met the requirements for the surgery.

To be eligible for the surgery, a patient suffering from end stage renal failure has to fulfill three requirements: not having complications other than end stage renal failure; having a willing donor; and preliminary investigation must reveal that the tissue typing indicates compatibility between the donor and the recipient.

Literacy programme resumes with GKRS donation
SENIOR Mistress at Richard Ishmael Secondary School, Ms. Walterine McLeod, has resumed the six weeks literacy programme, at her D’Urban Street, Georgetown home, following a donation from Grace Kennedy Remittance Service (GKRS).

Participants of the summer reading programme

This year, it began earlier this month and ends on August 15, catering for children between the ages of four and 15 years of age, in the hope of enhancing their reading capacity and academic performance in other areas.

According to McLeod, the teaching has been successful and it enables her to take up the challenge of bringing the children in her care up to speed with the standard required for the varying age groups.

She has pre-school, beginners and secondary categories and reading has been effective in assisting each student in an area of need.

Walterine McLeod engaging in a reading session with participants of the reading programme

She said, thankfully, there has been a significant increase in the quality of students’ work.

Some of those in the classes were enthusiastic about improving themselves.

Among them, Rondel Peters, 8, said the sessions helped him to read and spell.

Keron Samuels, 7 , said he learnt to read and spell words and Randy Gibson, 12 , admitted learning different things, apart from grammar and reading.

They all spend three hours, from 09:00 h to noon, at the end of which they are treated to snacks.

‘CITY RAID’: Members of the City Constabulary on Tuesday swooped down on the popular ‘RRT Enterprises’ on Regent Street and were seen attempting to seize ‘mag-rims’ being sold on the pavement. It is not clear whether any of the mag-rims were actually seized. The award-winning RRT Enterprises have long been reputable dealers in all brand name tyres, car accessories, motorcycle and bicycle spares, general merchandise, computerised wheel alignment, balancing and vulcanising services. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photos)

‘EYE SORE’: Garbage dumped on Regent Street, between Camp and Alexander Streets. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

‘NO PARKING’: Traffic ranks on Tuesday towed away this vehicle which was seen on a ‘No Parking’ zone on Camp Street – in front of Republic Bank.

The minister maintained admirable posture and calmness in the face of lamentable aggression. His responses conveyed that he was well aware of the constraints leading up to the structural failure of the bridge, as well as the abnormal strain that was put on the bridge by at least one member resident in the community and who actually was compelled to effect repairs to the bridge.

No appreciation was evident in acknowledging the concern of the minister by his visit as well as his full knowledge of the recent efforts of the residents to undertake rehabilitation works on the bridge. Opportunity was lost by the totally illogical and immature discourse that was adopted by the residents; a more constructive and civil discourse would have been achieved, Mabel sighs!
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What has become of civility and respect for authority in dialoguing towards achieving a successful resolution. It is a sad reflection emanating from a community that should be regarded beyond the rabble of our society, laments Mabel.
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Concrete action by the authorities to restore orderliness in the illegal occupation of the former railway lands adjacent to the prestigious Lamaha Street has been noted with satisfaction by Mabel, especially in view of what she had to say about the filthy condition of the trench and pavement.
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Noting that the repeal of stamp duty for the incorporation of companies has now received acceptance by parliament, Mabel distinctly remembers that the sweetheart deal that the Hoyte PNC government gave to the parent company of GT&T called for the illegal waiver of this very stamp duty tax amounting to several ten thousand dollars, shades of present day QAII.
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But it has taken over twenty years to legitimise the give away of the thousands as well as act of waiver. The QAII necessary incentive is currently being corrected.
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The current Head of GT&T, according to reports reaching Mabel, may be approached to accept the position of a consensus candidate to lead a PNCR initiative of an opposition coalition.
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The sweetheart deal with the PNC place in perspective the delay in conducting the end of the monopoly and now the reported consensus candidate suddenly makes for much conjecture.

STANDARDS CORNER
The Metric System in the Health Care Sector
A new precedent for the exclusive use of the metric system in the U.S. may have been set by the nation’s premier health care accrediting organisation. In an effort to prevent medication errors in a vulnerable patient population, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organisations (JCAHO) has recommended that pediatric patients should be weighed in kilogrammes, and that this should be done in all health care settings, countrywide. The Joint Commission also announced that it was pressing for the routine use of the kilogramme for weight in medical records and in communicating generally.

“The recommendations for pediatric medication use, are based on the metric system,” said Dr Peter Angood, vice president and chief patient safety officer for the Joint Commission, which made the following recommendation as part of an 11 April, 2008, Sentinel Event Alert:

“Since patient weight is used to calculate most dosing (either as weight-based dosing, body surface area calculation, or other age-appropriate dose determination), all pediatric patients should be weighed in kilogrammes at the time of admission (including outpatient and ambulatory clinics) or within four hours of admission in an emergency situation. Kilogrammes should be the standard nomenclature for weight on prescriptions, medical records, and staff communications.”

A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious injury. Because JCAHO recommendations in Sentinel Events Alerts usually become a part of the U.S. health care landscape, the move to the use of the kilogramme in children’s body measurements may help make this SI base unit a byword among not only American parents but parents generally.

However, the United States Metric Association Public Relations Director, Paul R. Trusten, who is also a practicing hospital pharmacist, thinks that Joint Commission’s action did not go far enough; he believes that extending the kilogramme weight guideline to all patients is essential to medication safety. In a letter to Commission’s Chief Patient Safety Officer, Peter B. Angood, M.D., on the day of the kilogramme announcement, Trusten wrote:

“The recommended action in today’s JCAHO Sentinel Event Alert… regarding the weighing of pediatric patients in kilogrammes only, should be extended to patients of all ages. Although children are apparently at greater risk, the continued use of two different systems of measurement in U.S. health care constitutes an ongoing risk for error in our entire health care system. When pounds are erroneously reported as kilogrammes, or vice versa, serious dosing errors (under dosing or overdosing) are possible in, for example, chemotherapy or anticoagulation.

The use of the metric system by 98% of the world’s population has undoubtedly been forcing non-metric countries to urgently adopt and use the metric system of measurement, particularly because it is easier to use, it provides precise measurements, and because it is the only measuring system used by most of our world’s key technologists, producers, manufacturers and exporters whose inventions and products we all utilise.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has successfully managed to implement the metric system in Guyana’s Health Sector by ensuring that devices in use are metric before they are verified twice yearly, and as a result, the body mass of our new born babies, young children and even adults are read and recorded in kilogrammes.

The GNBS therefore joins with the US Metric Association in urging all to make the exclusive use of kilogrammes in measuring, recording, and stating the body mass of all patients a National Patient Safety Goal for 2009.

For further information please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0069, 219-0065, 219- 0062.