PPP/C has delivered on health and jobs – Regional Health Officer

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has closed longstanding development gaps in health care and youth employment in Region Ten and deserves a second term, Regional Health Officer Dr Gregory Harris told thousands gathered at a campaign rally in Linden on Sunday.

“Call it progress, don’t call it luck,” Harris said, declaring that under President Irfaan Ali’s leadership, the PPP/C has created more access to healthcare and employment in the traditionally opposition-held region than the APNU+AFC did when they were in office from 2015 to 2020.

He pointed out that 10 telemedicine sites now serve riverine communities.

“There was a time when our friends from the riverine areas were denied secondary health care,” Harris said. “But this PPP/C government bridged that gap.”

He also pointed to the establishment of a new health centre in Blueberry Hill so residents don’t have to travel to access healthcare.

In addition, he also pointed to a digital X-ray system at the Linden Hospital Complex and an ambulance for Ituni as examples of what he called “promises delivered” for Region 10.

He also pointed to a boost in emergency response infrastructure. In five years, he said the PPP/C delivered seven ambulances to Region Ten, compared to just one when the APNU+AFC coalition was in office.

Addressing youth unemployment, Harris noted that over 1,500 young people had been hired through the Pathway programme, while the closure of the region’s call centre under the previous APNU+AFC administration was reversed when the PPP/C returned to office in 2020.

Responding to criticism over the nursing school closure in Linden, Harris said the APNU+AFC government trained 54 nurses over five years, compared to 371 under the PPP/C.

He described the upcoming September 1 general and regional elections as a referendum on performance.

“This government has performed excellently,” Harris declared.

Emphasising the need to stay the course, Harris urged supporters not to take any risks with leadership and give Dr Irfaan Ali a second term.