Guyana’s public healthcare sector is taking a significant step towards strengthening specialised rehabilitation services with the turning of the sod for the country’s first Neurological Rehabilitation Centre. The facility is expected to expand access to specialised care, improve functional recovery and enhance the quality of life of people living with neurological conditions.
The sod-turning ceremony was held on October 16 at Industry, East Coast Demerara, marking the start of construction of the facility. Funded by the Government of Guyana at an estimated cost of $550 million, the centre is expected to be completed and commissioned by the end of 2027.
The dedicated outpatient facility will provide specialised rehabilitation services for people recovering from strokes and those living with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, myasthenia gravis and Guillain-Barré syndrome, among other neurological disorders.
These conditions can affect movement, balance, coordination, communication and other essential functions, potentially limiting a person’s ability to perform everyday activities independently. Through targeted rehabilitation and multidisciplinary care, the centre will seek to help patients improve their functional abilities, regain independence and achieve a better quality of life.
When completed, the centre is expected to offer a range of services, including physiotherapy to improve mobility, balance, strength and walking ability; occupational therapy to support self-care and independence at home and in the community; and speech and language therapy to address communication and swallowing difficulties. Medical support services will assist with rehabilitation needs and associated complications, while psychosocial services will help patients and their families adjust to disability and provide support for caregivers.
The establishment of the centre forms part of the Ministry of Health’s ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and expand access to rehabilitation for people living with disabilities and those recovering from illnesses that affect neurological functioning.
Importantly, the facility is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing rehabilitation services across Guyana. Through appropriate referral pathways and coordination with regional rehabilitation departments, the centre will contribute to a more integrated continuum of care, enabling patients to access specialised assessment and treatment while supporting ongoing rehabilitation closer to their homes and communities.
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, said the centre is among the Ministry’s initiatives aimed at expanding rehabilitation services and addressing the needs of people requiring specialised care to support their recovery.
“We know that in our country, we have been experiencing a lot of people who would have high blood pressure, and sometimes if they don’t take care of it, they can end up with a stroke. And this centre is also intended to help those persons with stroke to help them to bring them to full recovery,” the Minister explained.
Dr Anthony highlighted the importance of dedicated rehabilitation services for people who have suffered strokes, particularly given the potentially long-term effects on mobility, independence and overall well-being. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, underscoring the importance of effective blood pressure management in reducing the risk of serious complications.
The Minister noted that the facility would provide an important avenue for patients to access rehabilitation tailored to their individual needs. He expressed the hope that, once operational, the centre would be well utilised and make a meaningful contribution to improving recovery outcomes.
Dr Anthony also commended the team within the Ministry’s Rehabilitation and Disabilities Services Department for helping to advance the initiative.
Meanwhile, Director of Rehabilitation and Disabilities Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Ariane Mangar, also welcomed the development, describing the centre as an important addition to Guyana’s rehabilitation infrastructure.
Dr Mangar noted that the new facility would strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to provide appropriate care, improve recovery outcomes and support patients in achieving a better quality of life.
“This will help us to treat those patients and definitely get better outcomes, and then the patients will have a better quality of life. That’s our aim,” she said.
Dr Mangar emphasised that the establishment of the centre represents an important step in strengthening rehabilitation services nationally, given the significant impact neurological conditions can have on a person’s ability to move, communicate, perform daily activities and participate fully in society.
She further explained that the Ministry’s focus extends beyond treating a medical condition to helping individuals achieve the highest possible level of functioning, independence and quality of life. The centre will strengthen the capacity to provide specialised rehabilitation while complementing services already available across the country’s ten administrative regions.
Neurological conditions can have far-reaching effects on individuals and their families, affecting not only physical functioning but also communication, participation in everyday activities and overall well-being. For people recovering from a stroke or managing progressive neurological disorders, rehabilitation plays a vital role in maximising functional abilities, promoting independence and supporting a return to daily activities where possible.
Access to appropriate rehabilitation can also ease the challenges faced by families and caregivers, who often play an essential role in supporting recovery and providing long-term care.
The establishment of Guyana’s first Neurological Rehabilitation Centre therefore represents a significant advancement in the country’s public healthcare system, expanding the capacity to deliver specialised outpatient rehabilitation and offering renewed hope to patients and their families.
