SEABOARD Agro-Industrial Company in collaboration with National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) yesterday donated $1M to Doobay’s Medical Centre at Courbane Park, Annandale, East Coast of Demerara, in commemoration of the Centre’s second anniversary.

Managing Director of NAMILCO, Mr. Bert Sukhai presented the cheque to Chairperson of Doobay’s Medical Centre, Ms Ameena Gafoor in the presence of other senior members of the Board of Directors, including Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Vickram Oditt, Director Mrs. Dawn Oditt, Founder Mr. Budhendra Doobay and staff of the centre.
Sukhai said that Seaboard in collaboration NAMILCO is very pleased to make this generous donation towards enhancing the facilities and the medical services which Doobay’s Medical Centre offers.
He added that Seaboard would usually give monetary contributions to countries in which they have companies. He noted that last year, a similar donation was made for the centre’s first anniversary.
He pointed out that Seaboard usually looks around for the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that need the help and they go directly to them with the donations.
Sukhai said he is pleased to make the presentation on behalf of Seaboard as they have seen the many strides taken in bringing relief to kidney patients. He said it is within that context they have decided to contribute to a non-profitable body such as Doobay’s Medical Centre.
Sukhai noted that Seaboard is involved in flour milling in over sixteen countries, mainly on the African continent. On this side of the world, they have flour mills in Guyana, Haiti, Ecuador and Colombia.
Seaboard is also involved in sugar cane production in Argentina, commodity trading worldwide, shipping and pork production.
Oditt said Doobay’s Medical Centre is a registered non-profitable organisation which opened its doors on September 16, 2011.
He said most of its funding and support has been from donations, including the building which was donated by the President and Founder of the Centre, Dr. Budhendra Doobay, an eminent Guyanese-Canadian philanthropist and vascular surgeon.
Dr. Doobay received a number of awards, including the Queen’s Golden Award and Diamond Jubilee Medal in Canada, while Canadian funding has been coordinated through the Voice of the Vedas (Vishnu Mandir).
The renal centre, which is a component of the medical centre, provides service according to international standards, Oditt said.
Their mission is to provide affordable treatment and quality care by trained professionals.
Oditt said that with their continued evolution to better serve Guyana rates have been dropped for the dialysis sessions and the Renal Centre is now equipped with 20 machines.
He said some expansions to the Centre are being planned and have already been put to the Board of Directors. They include:

* a cardiovascular clinic targeting hypertension; diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol;
*  an angiosuite offering angiography and insertion of stents as needed
*  a cardio rehabilitation centre
*  expanded dialysis services
*  twin surgical suites
* a six-bed intensive care unit with recovery suites
* state-of-the-art laboratory services
* x-ray and ultrasound services
* dietician services
* dental clinic, ophthalmology and optometry clinic;
* a pharmacy
* ambulance services and
* a professional school of nursing and medicine.

According to a press release issued by Seaboard/NAMILCO the Bresky Foundation gives back to countries where Seaboard operates, in monetary donations.
The name Bresky is linked to the founder of the Seaboard with Steve Bresky being the current chairman of the company.
The release also said that the Seaboard Corporation has recently expanded their presence in Guyana with investments in the rice industry.
Seaboard Corporation and the Seaboard overseas and Trading Group support an environment where the company gives back to the communities they serve throughout the world.