Guyanese scholar Yogeeta Persaud, who died suddenly while on a volunteer medical outreach in Peru, was planning to return home to serve in the medical field after completing studies overseas.
She would have celebrated her 22nd birthday on August 24.
After earning her Bachelor’s Degree focused in biochemistry from Stony Brook University (SBU) in the United States, she decided on joining the University’s medical outreach trip with “Volunteer Doctors Around the World” to Peru.
She was among volunteers working in mobile medical clinics, conducting public health surveys, shadowing local physicians, among other work.
Peruvian Police said Persaud was on the medical outreach in the Anta province of Cuzco.
According to Police, she collapsed around 12:50 p.m. Sunday and showed vital signs when emergency services arrived but she died some 30 minutes later while on the way to the hospital.
On her Instagram profile, she quotes author J.K. Rowling: “Let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”
From the village of Zorg on Essequibo Coast, Persaud attained 18 Grade Ones at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams in 2013 and was named the country’s top performer; she was also adjudged the overall best performer in the Caribbean that year.
Persaud’s mother, Devika, told the News Room that she last saw her daughter when she went to her graduation last May.
She said her daughter was planning on returning to Guyana to fulfil the terms of scholarship, which included giving back to the country.
Due to her studies, the young Persaud was skilled in cell culture, Haemotoxylin and Eosin staining, organic chemistry, teaching, and cancer research.
Persaud’s Grade One passes are CSEC were in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Human and Social Biology, Integrated Science, Agricultural Science (Double Award), Mathematics, English A, English B, Spanish, Information Technology, Principles of Business, Office Administration, Physical Education and Sport, Social Studies, Electronic Documentation and Separation and Management, Electrical and Electronic Technology, and Home Economics Management.
Five years prior to CSEC, she was Guyana’s top student at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).