KIDNEY specialist and Public Health expert, Dr. Thakor Patel has said the Sevak Zara Health Project, hopes to get more volunteers.

The aim is to see high school students being trained to go into their villages and check residents for diabetes, blood pressure, hypertension and other kidney related ailments, he said.
In an interview with the media, at the Balwant Singh Hospital, on East Street, Georgetown, Patel said the programme, which was first introduced in Guyana last year, using a model from India, can benefit the Guyanese populace in a big way.
He explained that his colleague from the United States, transplant surgeon, Dr. Rahul Jindal knew about it when it was being implemented in India and, because he travels to Guyana frequently to perform kidney transplants, he suggested bringing it here.
Patel said Rahul visited Guyana and spoke to businessman George Subraj, who agreed, expressing the view that he believed it was exactly what Guyana needs and he is financing the entire scheme.
Patel said it was initiated at the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) School at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, where they selected four students and two teachers to be involved in the implementation.
He said he would send the materials and a biology teacher at the school, where students could be taught the relevant information and medical terms, as well as conduct educational sessions on sanitation, smoking, alcohol use and the environment, among other topics.
Patel said, last November, students were sent into their respective villages to implement what they have learnt and they were also encouraged to educate their family members on how to control and prevent those illnesses.
He said that the programme is for all Guyanese, regardless of ethnic, religious or social backgrounds and any persons interested in its expansion to other regions of the country just have to contact the SVN School.
Patel said they have observed students in their respective villages to make sure they know what to do, as the latter have now become the eyes and the ears for healthcare in their individual village.
Patel and Jindal said their team met with President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who showed great interest in forming a relationship between the Sevak and community health workers, to benefit the interior regions.