A prominent Guyanese businessman who requested anonymity has pledged some Gy$100 million for the construction of a hospital catering for kidney dialysis and treatment of patient.
The announcement was made by Doobay Medical Centre President, Dr Budhendra Doobay on Sunday, at a charitable event.
The multimillion-dollar hospital is expected to be completed within 18-24 months. The three-storey complex is expected to house a medical school offering courses for laboratory and pharmacy technicians, nursing and phlebotomy.
Patients suffering from severe kidney problems will benefit from enhanced dialysis and treatment, free of cost.
Professor, Dr Euan Carlisle of Mc Master University, Canada disclosed that through a collaborative effort with the Health Ministry and the Doobay Medical Centre, the hospital may be able to offer kidney transplant surgery in Guyana.
“Every two months, a kidney specialist from the Mc Master University, Canada comes here to ensure the dialysis patients are doing well. We go around and see all the patients and see that the dialysis is high quality.”
Professor Carlisle noted the good relationship between the centre and the university, and expressed hope that it will grow from strength to strength.
He further noted that the dialysis centre in Guyana has grown and is continuing to grow since its establishment two years ago. The centre located at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, sees about 40 people on a daily basis, providing free treatment.
“I feel that they are getting good dialysis and most of them say they are feeling very, very well and the dialysis is going very well for them,” Dr Carlisle said, but noted: “We would like to see more patients being planned for dialysis… first of all, we would like to try to prevent patients reaching the point of dialysis.”
This, he explained, can only be possible with the patients following the doctors’ instructions of eating healthily and maintaining a healthy lifestyle by exercising and taking their medications on time.
Dr Doobay said plans are in the pipeline for screening to be done at the centre, which can help in the recognition of similar problems so that the patients will become aware of what problems they are likely to develop, and as a result, the doctors and nurses can administer treatment in ample time.
The Doobay Medical Centre was established in 2011 and has since developed into a reputable entity for dialysis treatment. The medical centre is sustained by donations and fundraisers.
