THE Ministry of Health has announced the arrival in Guyana of Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick, Pediatric Oncologist and Associate Clinical Professor at Buffalo State University, in the United States.

The ministry said Dr. Lorna Fitzpatrick is visiting Guyana for the third time, from 16th – 19th November, to further expand the Oncology Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Dr. Fitzpatrick initially visited Guyana in February and October 2013 where she and her team trained two Guyanese Pediatric Residents to perform bone marrow biopsies in the Oncology Department at GPHC.

Dr. Fitzpatrick also outsourced (free of charge) medications and pathology arrangements for sick kids through the University of Buffalo.

So far twenty-five children have been screened for various type of cancers such as Leukemia and Lymphoma at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Further, during her last visit to Guyana, Dr. Fitzpatrick and her Team’s objectives were to understand and advise on issues surrounding:

– Establishing a Tumor Review Board
– Review and advise on Practices and procedures governing the administration of Chemo and related drugs; dispersal of blood platelets from the Blood Bank; dispersal of medication for patients and discharge regimens in Guyana.

Dr. Fitzpatrick works closely with a well established Strategic Partner, Guyana Help The Kids Foundation, headed by Dr. Narendra Singh, which is a Diaspora-lead initiative, in providing financial assistance to children in need for CT Scans and MRI’s.

The Ministry of Health said it fully endorses and supports the Paediatric Oncology Programme headed by Dr. Fitzpatrick.