U.S. physician operating in the out patient section of the Mahdia Hospital. (Photos by Vanessa Narine)

The U. S. Military Tropical Medical Course team visiting Guyana has concurred that its biggest service in the two weeks here is public education.

The 12 member team, which includes dermatologists, pediatricians, general medical practitioners and internal/ infectious disease physicians, arrived in Guyana on August 8, 2009.

Since then, they spent a week interacting with the health workers at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) before heading to Bartica for two days, where they hosted a medical outreach.

Another outreach was facilitated in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro/ Siparuni), where their foray ended yesterday.

The objective behind the team’s visit to Guyana was educating and training U.S physicians outside U.S. borders, while at the same time providing a service to the partnering counterparts, in this case the people of Bartica and Mahdia.

Persons in the waiting area of the Mahdia hospital.

This was according to head of the team, U.S Navy Commander and Internal/ Infections Disease Physician, Lieutenant Commander David Brett-Major.

The Guyana Chronicle caught up with the team as members were finishing up their final day at the Mahdia Hospital.

In an invited comment, Brett-Major explained that back in the U.S. a batch of physicians are trained for a month and subsequently half of these travel to a foreign country, a partner of the U.S., where they get practical experience in working “outside U.S. borders.”

The team’s head added that of the 12 individuals here, eight are physicians undergoing the training, while the remaining four, including him, are faculty medicine.

He pointed out that the U.S. Military Tropical Medicine Course has been ongoing in Guyana for the past six years and has been met with relative success.

Dr. Edelu Hernandez Soto, left, with some of the hospital staff.

On past occasions, Brett-Major stated, the team would collaborate with the Ministry of Health and then proceed to assist whichever locality regional health workers pointed out as those in need of the extra assistance.

This year was no different, except that the team was stationed at the Regional Hospitals instead of in a part of the community.

However, Brett-Major reiterated that the area that has seen most of their contribution was public health education.

ȁWe are physicians seeing patients, a laboratory in place and a pharmacy, but as the people come to the hospital they are exposed to health education,” he said.

In response to the level of education that the team encountered during the outreach, Brett-Major stated that the people are conscious of basics.

He said, “The programmes are good and the health workers are dedicated, particularly the nurses.”

With regard to the prevalence of malaria in Region Eight, the Internal/ Infectious Disease Physician stated that the region’s malaria programme is very effective.

Brett-Major’s colleague, U.S Air Force’s Lieutenant Colonel Brad Lloyd, echoed these statements and added that in addition to the educational services provided, the areas also received medical supplies.

The medical supplies, Lloyd said, were bought through support by the U.S. Southern Command team, which facilitates humanitarian efforts in countries partnering with the United States.

A cross section of the Mahdia hospital.

ȁThe cost is around US$25, 000,” he asserted.

However, he pointed out that the opportunity to assist the Guyanese people was a good one.

To this end, the Cuban doctor stationed in Mahdia, Dr. Edelu Hernandez Soto, expressed his appreciation to the U. S. Team.

ȁMany of the people do not have the money to afford some services outside Mahdia, so this was very good for the people,” he posited.

The Ward Sister at the hospital, Ms. Tricia Hubbard, reiterated these sentiments and pointed out that the U.S. team brought with it and expanded range of services, noting particularly dermatology.

The recipients of these also expressed their gratitude to the team, voicing their desire for the team’s return.

ȁThey doing a good thing and they should come back,” Mrs. Hilda Henrito, a long time resident of Mahdia, said.

Second from left, Lieutenant Commander David Brett-Major, handing over citations to U.S Embassy Charge’d Affairs, Mrs. Karen Williams, fourth from left, and Regional Chairman, Senor Bell, right.

Ms. Pinky Sampson said, “There are no problems with the health services, but the help, the new service, is really helpful and everything is good.”

ȁThese people add something to Mahdia,” another resident, Mr. Alex Warrick, said.

The Regional Chairman, Mr. Senor Bell, added his bit, noting that the team is the largest foreign contingent to service the people of Mahdia.

Overall, concurring with most, Mr. Ishwar Dass, Regional Executive Officer, said the initiative was one that the people of Mahdia made much use of.