Residents of Moraikobai, the only Amerindian Village in Region Five (Mahaica – Berbice), on Sunday last benefited from a range of medical services through an outreach conducted by the 18th China Medical Team in the village.
The medical outreach to the village was organised by CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL), which holds a 25 per cent working interest in the Stabroek Block, located approximately 200 kilometres offshore Guyana.
Nine doctors, including specialists, travelled to the village located approximately 96 miles from the confluence of the Mahaicony River to render various services including ultrasonography, and overall check-ups.
Residents turned out in large numbers to the outreach to consult with the doctors and received medication prescribed based on their circumstances. The residents lauded the initiative and requested more outreaches in the future.
Shawn Smith, a logger who has been living in Moraikobai for over 18 years, said it was the first time he attended a medical outreach and was able to get a “fast response”.
He described the outreach as “good” noting that from logging all day he would normally suffer from back pain and through the outreach he was able to get medication to help relieve the pain.
Jeff Bonaparte, the Deputy Toshao of the village who visited the medical outreach, extended appreciation on behalf of the village council and the residents to CPGL for initiating the medical outreach.
Onica Sutherland, a resident of the village for 33 years said she felt “pleased and proud” that the outreach went all the way to Moraikobai and requested that more specialised services are offered in the future.
During a simple ceremony, Captain of the medical team Dr. Chu Xuehui extended gratitude to the residents of the village for their warm welcome and hospitality, and gave an overview of the medical team’s work since arriving in Guyana in September, 2022.
Since arriving in Guyana, the medical team has carried out comprehensive medical work both at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Georgetown and Linden Hospital Complex, Region 10 (Upper Demerara – Berbice).
In the past two months, the team has received over 400 outpatients, completed nearly 100 operations, and carried out 9 new medical technologies. They also provided medical training for local doctors at the Leonora Hospital, Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara).
“At the invitation of CPGL, we are very glad to come to Moraikobai Community to carry out the outreach programme, and try as much as we can to help the people here,” he told the residents.
