A CHINESE delegation from the Jiangsun Provincial Commission of Health and Family Planning, headed by Dr. Lan Qing, visited the Linden Hospital Complex on Wednesday morning to have a first-hand look at the work of the Chinese medical teams and to donate to that institution equipment worth millions of dollars. These included an anesthesia machine, pulse blood unit, pectoral cavity hemostat, laparoscopic flush head, laparoscopic suction head, sphygmomanometer, atomisation high energy chips, and transcutaneous jaundice meters.They were received by Linden Member of Parliament Valarie Patterson; recently appointed Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Ms. Collette Adams; Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Hospital Complex, Dr. Farouk Ryasat; and Administrator of the Linden Hospital Complex, Trevor Vangenderen.

After a brief introduction by Vangendren, Dr. Qing expressed deep appreciation to the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Health for the support given to the Chinese medical teams to Guyana over the past twenty-odd years.

He noted that over the past twenty years, eleven teams of Chinese doctors have provided services to the Linden Hospital Complex and critical services in the field of health.

Dr Qing said the team was “not here to relieve these medical teams, but to partner with the Linden Hospital Complex so as to provide improved health care to the people of Linden. In Dr Qing’s opinion, the Chinese medical teams have been performing very well and are accomplishing what they have set out to do, and he said it is their intention to open new opportunities to assist the Linden Hospital Complex, whose mission statement is “to provide a high quality of health care through teamwork and with compassionate care”.

Dr. Qing said a joint effort is necessary to ultimately benefit the people of Linden. On behalf of the Jiangsun Provincial Commission, he urged that persons continue to work assiduously.

Dr. Farouk Ryasat welcomed the Chinese delegation and recalled that, about one year ago, he was able to visit the Jiangsun Province, where he obtained first-hand experience on how the medical teams operate. He noted that it has been over twenty years since the Linden Hospital Complex has been benefiting from the Chinese expertise; and he said that, over those years, several specialists have come to the medical institution and have worked every day to serve the people of Linden.

He said the presence of the Chinese medical teams would help expand the services provided to the people of Linden and the country as a whole, particularly the entire Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice).

Deputy Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Health, Ms. Collette Adams, speaking on behalf of the Ministers of Health and the Permanent Secretary, who were not there, said it was great to be in Linden. She expressed hope that scholarships would be provided for Lindeners to go to China to further their studies. She thanked the Chinese delegation for coming, and expressed gratitude for the many medical missions which have served the people of Linden and Guyana over the years.

On behalf of Regional Health Officer Dr. Pansy Armstrong, Medex Baird thanked the Chinese team members for their gesture and assistance given in providing more medical equipment to the Linden community. She said the donations would uplift the health care system of the region.

Regional Member of Parliament Ms. Valarie Patterson thanked the Chinese delegation for the equipment which was presented, saying the items are much needed and will enhance services to the people of Linden.

She said the aim is to upgrade the Linden Hospital to a tertiary level, make the Upper Demerara Hospital at Wismar a Grade 4 facility, and the one at Kwakwani a Grade 3 medical institution.

Dr. Marks, Chief Medical Officer of the Linden Hospital Complex, identified some of the equipment and medical items which were handed over as valuing millions of dollars.

The Chinese team also visited the Laparoscopic Health Theatre, which was opened last September, and held certain discussions with the management of the Linden Hospital Complex.

By Joe Chapman