Marking a significant milestone in the transformation of healthcare delivery in Guyana’s hinterland, the new Annai District Hospital in the Upper Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) was commissioned on Friday.
The hospital is now fully equipped and staffed to deliver a comprehensive range of medical services, including outpatient care, inpatient services, accident and emergency treatment, maternal and child health, non-communicable disease management, laboratory and diagnostic testing, pharmacy services, general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dental care, and radiology services (X-ray and ultrasound).
In fact, life-changing surgical procedures have already started at the hospital. A team of 11 medical professionals from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) are in Annai for a two-day period, conducting a range of procedures including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, hysterectomies, appendectomies, bilateral tubal ligations, lump and bump removals, and cesarean sections. The first set of procedures was done on Friday.
Formerly known as the Annai Health Centre, this upgraded facility was officially commissioned on Friday by Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony.
During a community ceremony, Dr Anthony emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare across the nation.
“Today is a day of celebration,” Minister Anthony stated. “What began as a modest health centre has now evolved into a full-fledged district hospital—equipped with a state-of-the-art surgical theatre, enhanced laboratory services, advanced imaging technologies, and modern staff accommodations.”
The facility, representing a $236 million investment, forms part of a broader $450 million regional initiative to upgrade healthcare infrastructure throughout Region Nine. This includes the provision of three new ambulances and several all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to boost emergency medical response in remote areas.
Additional developments across the region include the deployment of cutting-edge diagnostic tools. These feature a new digital x-ray system and a mammography unit at Lethem Hospital, as well as AI-assisted malaria detection technology introduced in collaboration with Harvard University.
“These advancements mean residents no longer have to cross borders in search of healthcare,” Dr. Anthony said. “We are now seeing patients coming to us because the quality of care in Region Nine has significantly improved.”
The Ministry also used the occasion to encourage greater participation in the nationwide
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, now expanded to include women up to age 45. The initiative is a key part of the government’s strategy to reduce cervical cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Guyana.
”Progress is not just a concept—it’s action,” Dr. Anthony concluded. “We are not only talking about transformation; we are delivering it.”
Also present at the recommissioning were Dr Cerdel Mc Watt, Regional Health Officer (RHO); Bryan Allicock, Regional Chairman and Mnr Micheal Gouveia, Hinterland Coordinator, Regional Health Services.
Meanwhile, the minister also handed over four fully equipped ambulances to the Regional Health Officer of Region Nine, Dr Cerdel McWatt, significantly strengthening emergency medical services in the hinterland region.
The new ambulances, valued at $18 million each, will be strategically deployed in Annai, Karasabai, Sand Creek, and Yupukari. This distribution is aimed at enhancing emergency response capabilities, reducing response times, and expanding access to critical care across remote communities.
During the handover ceremony, Minister Anthony reiterated the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services in the hinterland. “When you asked, we listened—and today, we delivered,” he stated. “This ambulance, valued at $18 million, is here to stay and serve the people of this sub-region.”
The provision of the new units fulfils a promise made by the Minister during a previous visit to the Annai District Hospital. Each unit is outfitted with advanced medical equipment and is specially designed to navigate the challenging terrain and vast distances typical of the hinterland.
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