GDF aircraft refuses to transport suspected COVID-19 patient from Mabaruma to GPHC

A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) aircraft on Wednesday afternoon refused to transport a suspected COVID-19 male patient from Mabaruma, Region One who is experiencing pain in the knee, high fever and shortness of breath.

The patient, who is in his early 20s, was already at the Mabaruma Airport when the pilot refused to bring him to Georgetown for further medical treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley told the News Room that the patient is now at the Mabaruma Hospital where doctors are doing everything they can to treat him and keep him alive until he can be evacuated.

“We are attending to a medical emergency of patient who is having some complications that may very well cause the patient to succumb.

“I learnt that a GDF flight went into the area and they tried using that flight for him to come out and because of him having a high temperature as a result of the complication the Pilot would have refused to bring the patient on the flight and so now it leaves the doctors to try their best to manage the patient so that he can survive,” the Regional Chairman said.

The patient did a COVID-19 test on Tuesday and is still awaiting the results.

The Regional Chairman said the patient was swabbed after he visited the hospi

tal and complained of pain in the knee and subsequently began experiencing a high fever and shortness of breath. The News Room understands that the medical team is in contact with the Ministry of Health about the situation.

“I have already spoken to a Minister of Government who is working on it right now and I know that government will try their best to have the patient out of Mabaruma,” the Regional Chairman said.

He further stated that it is quite unfortunate what transpired and hopes there is no recurrence with future patients.