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Dr. Singh has attracted at team of some twenty-seven faculty members from the University of Toronto and McMaster’s University who regularly travel to Guyana at their own expense to train Guyanese doctors and nurses.
In March of this year GHTK set up the first level-three 24 bed neonatal care unity completely equipped with incubators, warmers, monitors and IV pumps.
That was quickly followed by the establishment of a neonatal nursing program with 11 nurses in training, and a pediatric residency program in cooperation with the GPHC, the Ministry of Health and the University of Guyana which currently has 7 residents.
The fundraiser drew a sizeable attendance of some 600. Among those there to lend their support was Guyanese born Ambassador to the GHTK Ryan Hinds who is a Hamilton Tiger Cats defensive back.
Following Impassioned speeches by Dr. Kate Marquardt of the Toronto Hospital for sick kids, Dr. Leif Nelin of Nationwide Children’s Hospital and special guest Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, the Chair of the International Development Relief Foundation (IDRF) Winston Kassim announced that based on what he’d learnt of the good work GHTK is doing, the IDRF would be making an initial commitment of $25,000 and would be partnering with GHTK. Other on the spot donations included CAN $2,000 from Brampton Flower City Centennial Rotary Club and CAN$4,000 raised by the Dhaman Kissoon Golf Tournament.
In his remarks Dr. Anthony thanked the GHTK and Dr. Narendra Singh, for inviting him to the event and for the opportunity to share a few thoughts with those in attendance.
The Minister told the audience. “Guyana welcomes all of you, to contribute to its development. Guyana Help the Kids has demonstrated how it can be done. Let us used this model as a best practice and I hope it inspires others to do similar good deeds.”
He noted that the infant mortality or dying in their first year is estimated by the UN Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality to be 4,700 children per day, of which neonatal mortality is a significant portion.
This hits developing countries like Guyana the hardest as they are constrained by a lack of financial and technical resources. He said that the GHTK initiative is already proving to be a tremendous success with 103 less deaths in the last year. Even greater gains are expected as the programme takes deeper root with GHTK infusing new knowledge and technology, ushering in new clinical standards, and training and developing Guyanese professionals to take ownership and leadership in the program.
This collaboration between Guyana Help the Kids and the Government of Guyana has created the first home-grown Pediatrics Post Graduate Program. “Very soon we will create medical education history in Guyana by graduating the first batch of pediatricians,” he added to the applause of the audience. “Having these specialist stay and practice in Guyana will certainly improve the quality of care and will have a significant impact on child morbidity or mortality.”
Displaying a knack of deadpan humour, he added, “Since no good deed is left unpunished! – Guyana has asked Dr. Singh and the GHTK to expand this program to all our regional hospitals, and being such Good Samaritans they have agreed.”
