THE Guyana Association of Alternative Medicine (GAAM) and the Guyana Association for Alternative Medicine Institute (GAAMI), located at 32-33 Dr. Miller Street, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, on Saturday held an orientation exercise for new students, and also introduced a scholarship programme.Dr. Iamei Aowmathi, Executive Director of GAAM and GAAMI/Bakja Health Movement, Holistic Care and Convalescence Service, in and outpatients, said the organisation has been practising herbal medicine for more than 25 years.

He added that they use all local plant products to make their own herbal medicines and held their 1st graduation exercise in 2012 with eight students.

Dr. Aowmathi said further that they offer certificate and diploma courses in their well equipped facility and they are accredited by the Guyana Accreditation Council and there is a Board of Directors with eight members.

He stated that they have four employees and they also provide a variety of services, including for the elderly and physically challenged at a minimal cost with herbal treatment for diabetic patients and those with skin diseases.

Dr. Aowmathi also operates the Bakja Health Movement which consists of the mosque, a cafeteria, a boutique and a home for the elderly.

He sees about 20 patients per day with appointments and they operate with professionalism in which a patient is firstly diagnosed, consultations are held, they are referred to a laboratory for tests and are treated accordingly and monitored.

They have accommodation for the elderly besides a laboratory, a kitchen, a library, classrooms, a computer room, treatment rooms, medicine rooms and other facilities to cater to the herbal needs of all.

Dr. Aowmathi said, “Holistic medicine should be utilised as preventative medicine, especially in the field of herbalism.” (Michel Outridge)