… hosted by UK-based Guyanese
Diabetics at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Medical Clinic, yesterday benefited from a mini health fair on diabetic education, hosted by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, in collaboration with U.K.- based Guyanese health care professional, Mrs. Elizabeth Bobb-Ralph. The initiative of Bobb-Ralph, R.N.R.M, who hails from Buxton, and who served the nursing profession in Guyana from 1977 to 2005, was, for her, a way of giving back something to the people of her homeland who are diabetics, and who stand to benefit tremendously from the kind of education to which they were exposed during the fair. The programme also accommodated a diabetic food exhibition, with guidelines on ‘What constitutes a good diet for Diabetics’, and concluded with breakfast for the some 200 diabetics attending clinic at the hospital yesterday, compliments of Bobb-Ralph.

But more particularly, Bobb-Ralph said, she was motivated to hold the health promotion, since both her parents, Mr and Mrs Bobb-Bathersfield (now deceased) were diabetic and hypertensive, and during their time, there was not adequate information on diabetic diets and healthful lifestyles for diabetics generally. It is her desire, therefore, to make life much more comfortable for today’s diabetics.

Recognizing the importance of educating diabetics on healthful living, Bobb-Ralph, who does health promotion in the medical ward at the hospital where she works in the United Kingdom, yesterday gave a comprehensive diabetic health education talk, presented in very simple and easy-to-understand language for the patients. Also offering life-saving information on various aspects of diabetes was Ms. Alexis Reid, R.N. of the GPHC.

Other speakers were Director of Nursing Services, Matron Audrey Corry, and Ms. Marissa Singh, R.N.
The programme had the  support of Chief Executive Officer, Michael Khan, the Public Relations Department and others at the GPHC.