Over 200 Berbicians have benefited from an annual medical outreach programme conducted by a team of 15 health professionals from the Guyana Medical Mission in conjunction with the Caribbean Medical Mission at the weekend.
The outreach which began on Saturday, November 06 and concluded on the evening of Sunday, November 07, 2016 was hosted at the Fyrish Village Health Center on the Corentyne.
During the two days medical outreach, persons from Fyrish and surrounding communities were treated for diabetes, kidney disease and arthritis. They also received blood pressure and eye testing. The team also provided three months worth of free medications for their patients.
According to the head of the Guyana Medical Mission, Dr. James Cort, although the group was established in 2005, they started work in early 2007 and ever since, have been visiting Guyana twice a year to conduct medical outreaches. He added that over US$200,000 have already been spent for this year on the medical outreaches by the group which is aimed at giving back to the people of Guyana.
“The doctors that are here providing their services are all in private practices overseas and when we come over here for the week or two, we make nothing, we still have our expenses and staff to pay but this is something we really want to do, it’s heart-warming. If you talking to some of the doctors they would say they come to serve the people of Guyana” he added.
The Guyana Medical Mission is expected to provide services during its outreaches for this year to six communities in Guyana. They will be visiting Liverpool on the Corentyne, Belladrum on the West Coast of Berbice, Mahaica, Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara and Enmore also on the East Coast of Demerara.
During Sunday’s outreach, the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of the Region Six Democratic Council, Kim Stephen expressed her satisfaction with the works of the Guyana Medical Mission. She related that “it is commendable to know that persons can take the health of other citizens into consideration”.
She said “I know for a fact that the doctors would have been sworn in or pledge their loyalty to give services in the health department but this venture today is very commendable and I also know that out of the 15 medical personnel, there are three Guyanese doctors who thought it fitting to come back and to serve Guyana and therefore the regional administration is overwhelmed and happy that the Guyana Medical Mission are on board to give support to Guyanese free of cost.”
