Refurbished neonatal facility commissioned at GPHC

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in collaboration with the Guyana Help the Kids (GHTK) on March 16 commissioned the refurbished Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the hospital.
The occasion was attended by First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar; Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran; GHTK founder Dr Narendra Singh; Culture Youth and Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony and several overseas-based donors.

Dr Ramsaran said the Health Ministry has a zero tolerance approach to prenatal, post-natal and infant mortality. He stressed that the Health Ministry and the GPHC are working collaboratively to improve local health services and are happy to have the GHTK onboard.
“I am so happy to have GHTK taking part in such huge venture and I assure you that this would not be the last donation we will be seeing from the organisation”. He also paid tribute to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) for its support.
During a media tour of the refurbished NICU, Dr Singh who is also the hospital’s principal partner for the development of the masters in Pediatrics’ programme, mentioned that the organisation which is based in Toronto, Canada, was able to raise in excess of Can $100,000 to procure monitors, IV pumps, pump monitors and Incubators.
Dr Singh told reporters that though local doctors underwent specialty training in advance health care, it means nothing if they are not equipped with the necessary advanced technology.
He said the NICU was in dire need of incubators, a machine which supports the breathing of pre-mature infants while they are still hospitalised, so that they can have a better chance of survival.
The monitor, Dr Singh said will enable doctors and nurses to record “early warning signs of them (babies) getting down in health”. A much needed Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP) was also installed in the NICU, and according to Dr Singh, this is the first time a CPAP mechanism will be operating in Guyana.
GPHC Chief Executive Officer Dr Michael Khan in an invited comment said it is the first time the hospital has worked with the GHTK, a charitable organisation, and was hopeful the partnership will grow from strength to strength.
He also hinted about the hospital implementing a neonatal training programme for nurses in May to be facilitated by overseas-based lecturers, if applicants are willing to sign a three- year contract to serve the GPHC. “It makes no sense for us to use our resources and train nurses who are going to leave us and go give their services to a private health institution,” Dr Khan said.
This newspaper also caught up with Guyanese-born overseas professional footballer Ryan Hinds, who is an active member of the GHTK. Hinds, who migrated some 18 years ago to Toronto, Canada, said he joined the organisation after learning about it through Dr Singh.
Hinds said the purpose of his visit is to sit down with the local team to find a meaningful way in which he can use his international affiliations to generate funds for the organisation.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in collaboration with the Guyana Help the Kids (GHTK) on March 16 commissioned the refurbished Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the hospital.The occasion was attended by First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar; Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran; GHTK founder Dr Narendra Singh; Culture Youth and Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony and several overseas-based donors.Dr Ramsaran said the Health Ministry has a zero tolerance approach to prenatal, post-natal and infant mortality. He stressed that the Health Ministry and the GPHC are working collaboratively to improve local health services and are happy to have the GHTK onboard.“I am so happy to have GHTK taking part in such huge venture and I assure you that this would not be the last donation we will be seeing from the organisation”. He also paid tribute to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) for its support.During a media tour of the refurbished NICU, Dr Singh who is also the hospital’s principal partner for the development of the masters in Pediatrics’ programme, mentioned that the organisation which is based in Toronto, Canada, was able to raise in excess of Can $100,000 to procure monitors, IV pumps, pump monitors and Incubators.Dr Singh told reporters that though local doctors underwent specialty training in advance health care, it means nothing if they are not equipped with the necessary advanced technology.He said the NICU was in dire need of incubators, a machine which supports the breathing of pre-mature infants while they are still hospitalised, so that they can have a better chance of survival.The monitor, Dr Singh said will enable doctors and nurses to record “early warning signs of them (babies) getting down in health”. A much needed Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP) was also installed in the NICU, and according to Dr Singh, this is the first time a CPAP mechanism will be operating in Guyana.GPHC Chief Executive Officer Dr Michael Khan in an invited comment said it is the first time the hospital has worked with the GHTK, a charitable organisation, and was hopeful the partnership will grow from strength to strength.He also hinted about the hospital implementing a neonatal training programme for nurses in May to be facilitated by overseas-based lecturers, if applicants are willing to sign a three- year contract to serve the GPHC. “It makes no sense for us to use our resources and train nurses who are going to leave us and go give their services to a private health institution,” Dr Khan said.This newspaper also caught up with Guyanese-born overseas professional footballer Ryan Hinds, who is an active member of the GHTK. Hinds, who migrated some 18 years ago to Toronto, Canada, said he joined the organisation after learning about it through Dr Singh.Hinds said the purpose of his visit is to sit down with the local team to find a meaningful way in which he can use his international affiliations to generate funds for the organisation.