By Danielle Campbell –
Residents of Long Creek on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway took full advantage of the services of a group of United States medical missionaries, who were on a four-day outreach in the community.
The 20-man team came on the invitation of superintendent of the Guyana Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend Brenda Harewood and provided services at the Carlyle Miller Cottage Hospital and Health Centre. Optometrist Raleigh Bynum told Guyana Times International that his team was seeing patients who needed eye glasses, reading glasses and general therapy for the eyes.
The common problems detected at the eye clinic are cataracts, and growths in the eye, for those who spend time outdoors and are exposed to direct sunlight.
Patients with glaucoma problems were being referred to local eye doctors, since the group were without medication for their complaint.
Dr Bynum stated that he was astonished by the overwhelming number of patients who were in need of reading glasses and said they were fortunate to be able to benefit from the large supply.
Dr Kevin Lopez-Shirley, who was performing examinations and treatment in the area of primary care medicine, said he was doing all in his expertise to provide services to a greatly under-served community, dealing with issues such as pneumonia, asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Dr Lopez-Shirley disclosed that his team was also providing the much-needed education and awareness for the patients on how they can reduce their sugar intake, alter their diet, and maintain stable blood pressure levels.
Community Health Worker Maylene Williams, who has been attached to the healthcare centre for the past eight years, said during the two-day period, a number of persons turned up to access services in the area of extractions, dentures, cleaning, and fillings, taking advantage of the dental clinic.
Common complaints
She stated that among the most common complaints which the centre has encountered are diarrhoea, vomiting, colds, skin infections, cuts requiring sutures, diabetes and hypertension, reiterating the gratefulness of the community for the services, given that there are no medics in the area.
