IN demonstrating its unwavering support to the development of Guyana, the People’s Republic of China, through the Jiangsu Provincial Commission of Health and Family Planning, on Thursday donated G$80 million in equipment to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), paving the way for establishment of a trauma centre there.To mark the official handing- over, Guyana’s Vice- President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge; Junior Minister of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings; GPHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alan Johnson; and Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Guyana, Zhang Limin; along with the leader of the Chinese delegation, Lan Qing, participated in a signing ceremony at the GPHC Resource Centre.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Cummings said the donation comes at a time when Guyana is on the cusp of unprecedented development. She noted that since the APNU+AFC government took office, it has embarked on implementation of a number of initiatives nationwide that are strategically designed to boost the country’s development.

“Every sector in Guyana is experiencing positive reform [that is] intended to provide tangible benefits to all Guyanese, regardless of their location, ethnicity, social or economic status,” she said. She added that one of the major sectors currently under reform is the health sector.

She said the sizeable donation by the People’s Republic of China, which will contribute significantly to the trauma centre, comes at a critical time.

It was pointed out that trauma centres and trauma systems are vital community assets. And with that in mind, the minister extended appreciation and gratitude to the Jiangsu Provincial Commission of Health and Family Planning.

“Guyana and China have a long and proud history of their exemplary relations and close cooperation in a number of areas, like education, culture, trade, and health. China’s long-term humanity support and commitment to Guyana has been rapidly flourishing since diplomatic relations between the two countries have been established,” she said, in recognition of the support Guyana has received from China over the years.

According to the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, trauma is defined as an injury or a wound to a living body caused by the application of external force. As such, a trauma centre is a health facility that is optimally prepared to provide comprehensive health care for critically injured patients.

Minister Cummings said that what is notable is that the operation of a trauma centre is extremely expensive. As a result, some areas — especially rural regions — are underserved by trauma centres due to the lack of adequate funding.

Making reference to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Minister Cummings pointed out that, for too long, trauma has been one of the leading health problems of the world.

“Every day, 15,000 people die from injuries; and for every person who dies, several thousand more are injured,” Dr Cummings pointed out, as she stressed the importance of having an efficient and effective trauma centre.

Deepening relations
Minister Greenidge also acknowledged China’s contribution to the development of Guyana. The fruitful partnership, he said, serves as further evidence of the strengthening and deepening of the excellent relationship between the two countries.

He pointed out that this close relationship has always manifested itself in material support through training programmes and technological development, such as the provision of laptops for the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative, and the construction of the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.

China has also assisted Guyana in the rehabilitation of the electricity sector. He said that, as a developing country, China continues to make tremendous efforts to share its skills and resources with other developing countries in the world.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Limin said, “As we develop ourselves, we couldn’t forget those medium and small developing countries and under-developed countries.”

He said that Guyana and China will continue to make further progress in bettering the lives of Guyanese. Qing, who also serves as Director of the Jiangsu Health Bureau, congratulated the GPHC for the establishment of a trauma centre.

Head of the GPHC Orthopaedic Department David Samaroo, said that shortly after Guyana had developed diplomatic relations with China, China began sending teams of doctors to work in Guyana. The 11th batch of Chinese doctors is currently serving in Guyana.

In addition to sending Chinese specialists to Guyana, the Chinese Government in 2009 donated a set of laparoscopic instruments to the Georgetown Public Hospital. This donation has aided in establishment of a Laparoscopic Centre at the GPHC.

“They did not only send the instruments, but, at the time, they also trained our local surgeons as to how to use these laparoscopic instruments,” he noted. Today, laparoscopic surgeries are frequently done at the GPHC.

Also, in 2009, the Chinese Government played a critical role in opening of the Ophthalmology Centre at the Georgetown Public Hospital. And in 2014, instruments totalling G$15 million were handed over to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“Today [Thursday], we are the recipient of a much larger donation, amounting to G$80 million…. This equipment will be used to launch our trauma centre and complement our services here at the Georgetown Public Hospital,” he said.

The supply of equipment includes anaesthesia machines, C-Arm, ultrasound knife, and an operating microscope.

By Svetlana Marshall