THE Government of Guyana in collaboration with the International Children’s Heart Foundation (ICHF), commonly known as the “Baby Heart Foundation,” has completed 13 successful heart surgeries on children ranging from nine months to 21 years old. First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar expressed her heartfelt gratitude to members of the surgery team as well as thanked the Baby Heart Foundation for taking such a leap to assist Guyana’s children. A press briefing was held at Cara Lodge to give the media an opportunity to interact with the Baby Heart team. The First Lady explained her prior encounter with the team and Dr Rodrigo Soto, she noted that they explained their plan to her.
Ramotar commended the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and noted when the “Baby Heart” visited the GPHC and they identified an area that would become their workstation. She noted the cooperation and reliability of the staff of GPHC and their Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan.
“All surgeries were successfully done. It is a generous initiative. Dr Debra Isaacs has always been doing a lot for our babies. I personally would like to congratulate the staff of GPHC and thank the team from “Baby Heart” for their tremendous contribution”, the First Lady related.
Dr Sheik Amir, Director of Medical Professional Services at the GPHC, noted that the initiative had been a little over two years in the making and it was not an easy process. “The Baby Heart team has done a great job and the Government of Guyana is very grateful,” he noted.
“We have started a process like this and envision that the support team will become stronger with time.” Dr Amir noted too that the patients that were operated on had been waiting for years and “ [when]the final results are published, we all will see the wonders that you (Baby Heart Team) have done.”
He explained that 13 cases had been successfully completed and six others were also looked at. Dr Amir reiterated throughout his remarks that one of the aspects that is very commendable and is welcomed with open arms was the training of the GPHC staff.
The Chief Executive Office of the foundation, Dr Rodrigo Soto, during his remarks noted that it is an honour to have been invited to assist Guyana and he explained too that the Baby Heart Foundation has been performing similar surgeries for 20 years in 32 countries worldwide. According to Dr Soto, the foundation has performed approximately 7500 surgeries.
He explained that when he made a visit to Guyana and saw the waiting list of persons, “I knew that this has to be done.” Dr Soto assured all of the commitment of the foundation, “we are fully committed to Guyana and in about three to five years we can make a reference centre here in Guyana.”
He also indicated that 18 persons made up the Baby Heart Team and have been working for two weeks in Guyana.
Guyana Paediatric Cariology Steering Committee, GPHC Heart failure Clinic and Echo Cardiology Programme, Dr Debra Isaac, explained the reason for her presence noting that she had no idea the magnitude of the heart disease problem of children in Guyana. “In 2014 some 13 children were operated on outside of Guyana,” she noted.
“I am so impressed with the Baby Heart team after the last two weeks… they have given something to Guyana of such immense magnitude.” The team, she noted, has been able to engage the people in Guyana and also some nurses have been trained.
Leslie Cadogan,the Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, expressed sincerest gratitude to the foundation and thanked them for the assistance of the training of the nurses.