THE number of locally trained dentists available to serve the nation has now been brought to nine with the weekend graduation of four students from the University of Guyana’s School of Dentistry with the Bachelor of Dental Surgeons (BDS) degree.

Best graduating BDS student was Ms. Zuli Perreira, while the second best was Simone Brady (a Jamaican national), who has already been accepted for internship at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Barbados. The other graduates from the class of 2012 are: Rehana Ali and Sulan Fung. Rehana Ali is the daughter of Director of Dentistry, Dr. Shamnir Ali.
In recognition of the sterling performance of the graduating class, the University of Guyana’s School of Dentistry held a reception in their honour, last Thursday at the Pegasus hotel in Kingston, Georgetown. Ms. Brady of Jamaica was unavoidably absent, hence her award was conferred in her absence.
Joining the class and other invitees in celebration were Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran; Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Emanuel Cummings; and Director of Dentistry at the University of Guyana’s School of Dentistry, Dr. Shamir Ali.
Dr. Ramsaran, who delivered the keynote address, congratulated the graduands (a few days ahead of the formal graduation at the Turkeyen campus). Noting that all nine persons graduating with the BDS over the last two years were females, Dr. Ramsaran had kudos for them, and said it signalled that our women are competing well at the tertiary level – something of which Guyana should be proud.
On the other hand, he admitted that the current male/female ratio relative to academic performance in the field could have serious social impacts.
Dr. Ramsaran also congratulated the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Health Sciences; the Cheddi Jagan Dental School, in which the students had their initial grounding; and all other stakeholders who, directly or indirectly, contributed to the proud moment for the School of Dentistry.
He acknowledged that, over the last three years, the Health Ministry has been placing great emphasis on training, and has expanded the dental programme as well.
He commended the quality of the programme from which the students have benefitted; the input from the University of Guyana and the Ministry of Health, as well as the support, mentoring and nurturing from centres of excellence and from foreign universities.
The Health Minister called on the graduating batch to ‘keep the flag flying high’, and urged them not to be just dentists, but to be leaders and pacesetters. He admonished the continuing class to keep striving for excellence, and concurred with the sentiments of an artiste at the ceremony, the high point of whose poem was: “Don’t settle for Honourable Mention… strive for excellence.”
Minister Ramsaran noted that government continues to invest in education and training, and has introduced post-graduate programmes in areas such as Orthopedics, General Surgery, Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, having already graduated several small batches of surgeons.
He said that government continues to invest in training hundreds of doctors in Cuba, but on their return some are reluctant to take up postings where their services are needed most.
The minister cautioned the incumbents of the need for them to serve wherever duty takes them, hence they should be prepared for this.
He assured that government is investing in more infrastructure to make the working environment and conditions more comfortable; and in general terms, government is investing more in developing the citizenry.
Meanwhile, Dr. Emanuel Cummings, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences for the last 10 years, commented that, over the years, Guyana has had a very successful Medical School; and that there has been much collaboration with the Ministry of Health. He said he sincerely hopes that the programme of the School of Dentistry will follow the steps of the UG Medical School.
He was also confident that the Medical School and medical graduates will create a name for themselves in Guyana, within the Caribbean Region, and internationally.
Highlighting the collaboration between the University of Guyana Medical School and the CJ Dental School, Dr. Cummings acknowledged and lauded the contribution of Dr. Johannes Johns, whose name is synonymous with the Cheddi Jagan Dental School.
Dr. Cummings also had kudos for the institution and its products. He remarked: “One of the good things about Guyana and Guyanese graduates is that we may not have state-of-the-art technology, but given the limited resources we have, we do produce quality graduates. And so I am certain that the graduates from last year, this year and future graduates will continue to do the University of Guyana proud, will continue to do Guyana proud.”
Eminently proud of the University’s School of Dentistry, he remarked that it is one of the many things at the University he has held close to his heart. Therefore, the news that one of this year’s graduates has been accepted for internship in Barbados is good for the University of Guyana in terms of recognition of its programme. He observed that it is very difficult to gain recognition for Dentistry in the Caribbean Region.
Proud that Guyana’s Dentistry programme is of international standard, Cummings said that the BDS programme was fully accredited in 2006. He congratulated Dr. Shamir Ali for his sterling contribution towards getting the BDS programme extended, and urged the graduates and continuing students to keep the University’s standards high.
Meanwhile, Dr. Shamir Ali, Director of Dentistry, joined in congratulating the graduates, and commended the high level of professional attitude, commitment and dedication they displayed while undergoing the programme. Noting that the school is yet to grow fully, he challenged the young prospective dentists to raise the bar of Dentistry in Guyana, adding that this is only possible through the School of Dentistry providing young, vibrant, professionals committed to going out there and changing the landscape in Guyana.