–in bid to strengthen ties with Guyana

THE Ministry of Health yesterday handed over to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) medical equipment worth $15 million, received from the National Health Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China.

In a simple ceremony, the equipment was handed over in the presence of the 11th brigade of Chinese medical students and the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency Mr Zhang Limin.

This donation is part of an integral effort to develop friendly relations between the Chinese medical brigade and the GPHC.

According to the GPHC Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr. Sheik Amir, the GPHC began receiving donations from the People’s Republic of China a few years ago, and although it wasn’t much then, it was still helpful.

But as the years went by, the donations started developing, becoming enhanced from the year 2006 and continuing to improve to this day.

Dr. Amir commended the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, H.E Zhang Limin, for carrying on this feat in face of some idiosyncrasies.

In his closing remarks, he stated that an important Chinese delegation is due to visit Guyana later this month, and China’s Minister of Health would be included in that delegation.

CEO of the GPHC, Mr. Michael Khan, in remarks, said that some of the equipment received were really needed by the hospital, and now that the equipment has been received, the hospital can advance its services offered to the public in terms of medical attention.

According to Ambassador Zhang Limin, China and Guyana share a very long history of friendship, and China has been donating equipment to Guyana since in the 1960s. He said China intends to continue in this vein in order to develop and maintain a better relationship with Guyana.

Mr Zhang Limin said the team of medical practitioners from China which is currently in Guyana would employ its best efforts to serve the Guyanese citizenry.

Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said, in his remarks, that the handing over event symbolizes the growing relationship between China and Guyana, and that the Ministry of Health is looking to expand and widen its relationship with China, so that more youths would have the opportunity to further their education in China.

All parties present showed gratitude to the National Health Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China almost in the same way, and stressed that this donation is another step in developing a stronger bond between Guyana and China.

(By Navendra Seoraj)