Guyana gets 29 new ventilators, 30,000 Hydroxychloroquine tablets to fight COVID – 19

As the fight persists against COVID – 19, the Ministry of Health is now equipped with 29 new ventilators, 4,800 personal protective equipment, 4,799 masks, 4,366 face shields, and a number of other medical supplies.

The items were handed over to Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday by the High Commissioner of India Dr K.J Srinivasa and also included 30,000 Hydroxychloroquine tablets from the Government of India.

Dr Srinivasa explained that Guyana’s proposal for assistance and collaboration for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic was processed under the India-United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and the guidelines of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Meanwhile, the implementation of the funding was done by UNDP, the Health Ministry and PAHO/WHO.

While speaking about the efforts made, the High Commissioner also highlighted that India Vaccine Producers are working on COVID-19 trial vaccines.

“We are expecting to see vaccines being produced in mass numbers by the first quarter of 2021. India is also keeping in mind that it will have to fulfil a commitment to its other developmental partners across the world and could supply part of the production of vaccines, and share it with the developing world”, Dr Srinivasa said.

Minister Anthony said the Guyana Government was very thankful to India for their assistance in the COVID-19 response.

He indicated that the medical supplies will be utilized by the Georgetown Public Hospital which houses the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit. Appreciation was also extended to Dr William Adu-Krow for the instrumental role he played in supporting the COVID-19 response.

Dr Anthony explained that while the hospital has competent doctors and nurses, they were providing care with limited resources.

“One of the critical areas is hospitalization…the GPHC has been at the fore-front of this response where there is a transition ward and an infectious ICU where a lot of the critical COVID patients would go.”

He added that the equipment would enable the medical team to perform life saving measures while ensuring the environment is ideal for care.

He further explained that India also intends to collaborate with Guyana as part of their US $17M line of credit to upgrade the three Regional Hospitals namely West Demerara Hospital, Suddie Hospital and Bartica Hospital.