THE GUYANA Medical Relief (GMR) Inc of Los Angeles, California, has sourced and has supplied US$20,861,594 in value of medical supplies to the Ministry of Health.
Chief Operations Officer of Guyana Medical Relief, Sharir Chan last week disclosed that the medicines requested by the Ministry arrived in Guyana by air on April 20 last.
He said: “Guyana Medical Relief has made this consignment to the Ministry of Health in the light of shortages being experienced locally. The Ministry will distribute to the various Administrative Regions as needed.”
Chan explained that the GMR Inc. was a 32-year-old Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) that is dedicated to assisting the health sector in Guyana.
GMR Inc.has over the past 32 years donated medicines to Guyana as needed and as supplies are available.
“This time, thanks to our partner, Direct Relief, we were able to quickly source these requested medicines for Guyana. We are delighted to be able to serve our people and to assist as we can. Guyana Medical Relief looks forward to sending more shipments of pharmaceuticals if requested,” he said.
Chan disclosed that in addition to supplying medications and medical supplies over the years, GMR has built Visualization in Acetic Acid (VIA) clinics at Mahaicony, Bartica and Charity Hospitals to combat the spread of cervical cancer among Guyana’s women.
VIA is a relatively inexpensive way to detect the presence of lesions that can lead to cervical cancer. If positive signs are indicated during such tests, treatment is provided to the patient on the spot.
In 2015 Guyana Medical Relief completely refurbished the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Port Mourant Hospital in Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) , thus providing the community with a modern unit. This organization has also donated ultrasound machines to the Port Mourant Hospital to health care facilities at Baramita in Region 1 (Barima/Waini) and Mahaicony Hospital in Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) respectively.
GMR has also to date provided 250,000 pairs of shoes to children in communities throughout Guyana, especially in the hinterland communities focusing on Regions 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) ,Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) and Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
“We also recognize the need for collaboration amongst like-minded NGO’s and as such we have partnered with outreach missions, such as The Canada-Guyana Outreach Mission (CanGo), based in Toronto, which is doing work in the Region 1 and Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), and the mission led by Dr. Cort of Fyrish, in Region 6, to bring professional assistance to Guyana’s rural population,” Chan disclosed.
