Great loss as murdered doctor was a pioneer in local medicine – Health Ministry

See below the full statement from the Ministry of Health following the murder of well-known doctor Dr. Colin Roach: 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is saddened and shocked at the death of Dr Colin Roach.

We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dr Roach.

Guyana has lost one of its young, but experienced doctors. Significantly, our country has lost one of its most experienced Biomedical pathologists. Dr Roach was part of the pioneering team that began revolutionizing laboratory science in Guyana and was a leading member of the team that began the transformation of manual procedures to automated technology.

When PEPFAR worked with the MOH to establish the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL), Dr Roach was the person that led the technical team under the then Minister of Health that put together the plan. He was appointed the first Director of the NPHRL. Later he was appointed as a Consultant to the United States (US) Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

PCR (DNA) testing was also pioneered in Guyana by Dr Roach.

At the time of his death, he was in close discussion with the MOH as the MOH begins a new era of transformation for chemical pathology.

Guyana has lost a genuine national asset.

We mourn his loss and our prayers are extended to his family.

May God bring peace to his family and help them recover from this massive loss.

May his soul Rest in Peace.