From left, Dr. Harrison Mitchell and Dr. John Mitchell.

The overall objective of The Health and Education Relief for Guyana is to provide care and continuing support for Guyana’s health sector, with education and resources for sustainability, as well as providing an early start for children in order to propel them to a better future.

This is according to Dr. John Mitchell, General and Trauma Surgeon who volunteers with Health and Education Relief for Guyana.

The team is here now and, and this stint end on Sunday.

“There is work in the Guyana health sector to be done, as it is with every health sector, so we are hoping to assist in the areas that need it,” Mitchell asserted.

The Health and Education Relief for Guyana team, according to the doctor, visits three times yearly; in March, August and December, for seven to 10 days on each trip.

The contingent of overseas doctors is led by Dr. John Mitchell and the team comprises some 30 odd members.

The team has maintained a presence in Guyana since 2000, when the outreach began in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice).

To date, Mitchell pointed out that Health and Education Relief for Guyana has touched the lives of thousands of Guyanese, at a cost that has not been quantified.

The team’s primary focus is treating patients, particularly children, newborn to 18-years-old, with the ‘Club-foot’ deformity.

The team’s works are threefold along with surgical operations there are:

* Medical outreaches being held in Georgetown and its environs, and on the Berbice River, accommodating all age groups; and

* Literacy initiatives that are ongoing in Sophia and Den Amstel, which caters for children aged five to 14.

According to Mitchell the surgical component of the team’s efforts has resulted in some 25 children suffering with the club foot deformity being seen, of which 16 are to undergo surgery.

Mitchell explained that, in addition to the club foot operations, the team had intended to perform its first hip and joint replacement surgery in Guyana.

However, he said it was found that there was need for more investigation into the particular case. Also, based on the findings of this survey, future plans will be made for those operations to be done.

The team has identified, too, approximately 30 persons in need of knee replacement surgeries, and is conducting clinics for patients with hip problems.

Mitchell highlighted that as with the surgical component, the medical outreaches have also met with relative success in that hundreds have been seen by the team’s specialists.

Another member of the team, Dr. Harrison Mitchell, expanded on the literacy initiatives as he is responsible for this aspect of the team’s undertakings and is the Health Care Administrator.

He stated that the literacy initiative has approximately 300 children, a majority of whom were involved in the programme last year.

ȁWe are hoping that these children stay with the programme until they are 18-year-old so that they can be in a better position to take their place as productive citizens,” the Health Care Administrator said.

He further explained that the children spend half of their days with remedial tutoring, are able to see medical specialists and, at the end, are equipped with school supplies for their new school terms.