The Ministry of Health has commissioned a new G$47 million Maternal Waiting Home at the Kumaka District Hospital, Region One, marking a significant step in improving maternal care in the Moruca Sub-District and surrounding hinterland communities.
The 12-bed facility is designed to offer expectant mothers from remote villages a safe and comfortable place to stay before and after childbirth. Purpose-built to address longstanding challenges in accessing timely maternal care, the home includes consultation and examination rooms, a fully equipped laundry, and a kitchen to support daily living needs while ensuring medical attention is close at hand.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing maternal deaths, especially in hinterland regions where distance and terrain remain major barriers. He emphasized the risks faced by pregnant women who historically travelled long distances to hospitals only after going into labour—sometimes resulting in dangerous en-route deliveries.
“Most maternal deaths are preventable, and we must take deliberate actions to avoid them,” Dr. Anthony stated, stressing the importance of early access to care.
The Minister explained that the Ministry has been constructing Maternal Waiting Homes at interior hospitals to address these challenges. These facilities allow at-risk or remote-area mothers to travel early, stay close to medical services, and receive timely professional care when labour begins. According to Dr. Anthony, maternal mortality has decreased in all hospitals where such homes have been introduced.
Maternal deaths in Guyana have historically remained high due to a combination of structural, geographic, and clinical factors. Women in hinterland regions face heightened risks because of long travel distances, limited transportation, and restricted access to well-equipped hospitals. Obstetric haemorrhage accounts for more than 21 percent of maternal deaths nationally, while hypertensive disorders and respiratory complications also contribute significantly.
Studies further show that many fatalities arise from “Delay 3” — delays in receiving adequate care at health facilities — driven by resource shortages, slow emergency response, and gaps in clinical readiness. Combined with socioeconomic vulnerabilities affecting Indigenous and remote communities, these systemic barriers have made maternal mortality a persistent national challenge.
The new Kumaka Maternal Waiting Home aims to address these gaps by offering mothers a secure environment before and after delivery. Once they give birth at the adjacent hospital, mothers can recuperate there until they are prepared to reunite with their families and return to their communities. Dr. Anthony noted that the facility was deliberately designed with maternal comfort in mind, reflecting the scale of the government’s investment.
The commissioning aligns with the broader push to strengthen maternal and child healthcare in hinterland regions, where geographic isolation has historically limited access to essential services.
Minister Anthony also expressed satisfaction with the transformation taking place across Moruca’s health sector. “Over the past few years, there has been significant improvements, not only with new equipment and infrastructure but also with increased staffing so we can deliver better service,” he said.
He added that upgrades are being implemented throughout several health centres in the sub-region and commended the local health team for their leadership and dedication in advancing these improvements.
Regional Health Officer Dr. Steven Cheefoon also lauded the progress made, recalling earlier struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic when Moruca lacked basic diagnostic capacity, including X-ray services and a functional laboratory.
“Today, we are commissioning digital X-rays and a maternal waiting home where mothers can relax in comfort, be closely monitored, and deliver healthy babies. A healthy baby is the first step to a successful future,” Dr. Cheefoon said.
He reaffirmed the region’s commitment to eliminating maternal deaths, stillbirths, and preventable complications—objectives he believes are now within reach. “Let us all share in this joy today. This is a milestone for Moruca and a proud moment for Region One,” he added.
The Ministry of Health says it will continue expanding maternal waiting homes across the country. Eight such facilities are currently operational, offering a combined capacity of approximately 169 beds—advancing the national goal of ensuring every mother can deliver safely and every child receives a healthy start to life.
