FACILITIES at the Pediatric Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are expected to be boosted shortly with the receipt of a grant of US$90,000 from the Government and people of Japan to be used to purchase equipment for that ward.

Receiving the cheque last Friday from the Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Yoshimasa Tezuka, and inking the agreement with the latter, was Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Khan.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds expressed thanks to the donors, on behalf of the government and people of Guyana. He added that Japan has always been a staunch supporter of Guyana for a number of years, as he cited instances where Guyana was the recipient of generous developmental assistance from that country. Noting that the money donated to us comes from taxes and revenues that the people of Japan pay, Mr. Hinds cautioned that we not take these gifts for granted.
He alluded to the tsunami which devastated Japan in the not so distant past, shutting down plants and bringing huge material losses as well as tremendous loss of lives. Prime Minister Hinds reiterated the moral support of the government and our people’s sympathy and solidarity to the Government and people of Japan.
Mr. Hinds called on the gathering to recognise that, when the people of Japan give to humanitarian causes, it is not because they do not know what to do with their money, but out of hearts of compassion and a desire to help others in need.
“It is a demonstration of a sense of people-to-people relationship, grass root relationships, out of a sense that they are moved, and we ourselves should be touched.”
To the people of Guyana, Prime Minister Hinds charged: “We [Guyanese] should never harbour the feeling that we have so little that we can’t help anybody. Certainly, we should always help … Be kind and courteous to each other and be kind and courteous to visitors to our country as well.”
The Prime Minister said he looks forward to the relations between Guyana and the government and people of Guyana growing stronger.
The signing and handing over ceremony was conducted at the Georgetown Hospital’s Resource Centre and attended by a prestigious gathering which included Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Ambassador of Japan, Yoshimasa Tezuka and delegation; Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Khan; Director of Maternal and Child Health, (MOH), Dr. Janice Woolford; Assistant Director of Nursing Services, Mr. Owen John and Director of Financial and General Services, Mr. Mohamed Karimullah and others.
Ambassador Tezula said that the money was being made available to assist the GPHC in procuring medical equipment such as monitors, ventilators and infusion pumps. He said the Japan Grant Project (JCP) is designed to promote human security in the world, by assisting non-profit organisations. It mainly targets areas that aim to improve basic human needs.
“Through this project the Georgetown Public Hospital will be well equipped to provide improved service for the vulnerable children who are in need of adequate medical care to save their precious lives.   I have no doubt that this is a project that addresses basic human needs, and we are very pleased that we can assist with this project through the JGP,” the Ambassador said.
He recalled that Japan has previously assisted in ensuring improved medical services to Guyana through the provision of general grant aid as well as the JGP for the procurement of equipment for Bartica and Fort Wellington, among other local projects.
The Japanese envoy said he is optimistic that the combined efforts of the players involved in such initiatives, will aid in the development of effective pediatric care at the GPHC. He said too, he is hopeful that, through this project, the Georgetown Hospital will be able to provide social care through which the lives of many more children will be saved.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Khan expressed  profound gratitude to the Government of Japan for the timely humanitarian gesture, aimed at saving lives at the Pediatric Department. The Georgetown Public Hospital, a national reference institution, he said, provides quality care, and is working assiduously towards providing training programmes and other initiatives designed to reduce neonatal and other pediatric deaths. To this end, he said, neonatal deaths have, in recent times, been reduced by more than 50%.
Dr. Janice Woolford who endorsed the sentiments expressed by Mr. Khan, concurred that the quality of paediatric care has improved over the years. This breakthrough, she credited initiatives such as the advanced training of nurses in neonatal resuscitation; training of more midwives; the establishment of Pediatric Residency Programme at the GPHC; the implementation of protocols such as care and management programmes to benefit the children.
Dr. Woolford said that, the Ministry of Health is very pleased to be the recipients of this benevolent and prestigious initiative. She assured the donors that the equipment supplied, will indeed be used to further enhance the quality of care for children in the pediatric wards and ultimately – saving lives.  Expressions of gratitude were also offered by Assistant Director, Nursing Services, Mr. Owen John; Pediatric Ward Managress, Sister Roxanne Pinder and Chairperson, Ms. Shivnie James who is also Ward Managress (Neonatol Unit) at the GPHC.