MORE than 20 local doctors are slated to begin training Friday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to use ultrasound to detect microcephaly in pregnant women who were exposed to the Zika virus.

A release from the Ministry of Public Health stated that Friday’s programme runs from 8:00hrs – 16:30hrs and the RAD-AID representatives will train participants in innovative strategies to support advancement of patient-care in the area. The workshop will be facilitated by Dr Brendt Schimit, the Equipment Implementation specialist at RAD-AID International and Dr Gillian Battino, a Director, RAD-AID for Latin America.

RAD-AID is a UN-affiliated non-profit organisation. Last year, RAD-AID donated two new CT Machines valued at over G$88M to the Ministry of Public Health, through Phillips Corporation, USA. In addition to coursing the more than 20 General Medical Officers (GMOs) and obstetricians, drawn from the country’s 10 Administrative Regions and the GPHC, Schimdt and Battino, who are already in the country, will visit the sites for the CT Machines at the Bartica Regional and New Amsterdam Hospitals.

They will inspect and provide technical assistance and support in the design of permanent housing for these CT machines, the release noted. The team is also expected to meet with GPHC executives and Dr. Madan Rambarran, Director, Institute of Health Sciences Education (IHSE) to plan for infrastructure necessary for a residency program that is scheduled to begin in August this year.

RAD-AID International provides medical imaging (radiology) programmes and improves radiology resources to 15 developing countries, with over 4,000 volunteers and 44 national chapters, including the first 3-Year Radiology Residency training program in Guyana at the GPHC in collaboration with the University of Guyana (UG).