THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) medical laboratory received a boost in the provision of healthcare to its ranks with a timely donation of a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine on Wednesday.

Polymerase chain reaction is a common laboratory technique used to make many copies of a particular region of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). This DNA region can be anything the experimenter is interested in.

The donation was made by members of the Guyanese diaspora in Canada through collaboration and friendship.

Acting Chief of Staff, Colonel Trevor Bowman, received the equipment from Alan Zaakir, a member of the diaspora.

Colonel Bowman, in welcoming the donation, stated that it is important the force maintain healthy and physically ready troops who can be deployed at any time.
He noted the role of the Medical Corps in this regard, adding that the new piece of equipment serves to bring the lab on par with its counterparts.

He assured the donor that the equipment will be used to the benefit of the force.
Colonel Bowman also praised the collaboration that birthed the donation, which will ultimately improve the quality of healthcare offered to serving men and women of the GDF.
Alan Zaakir, in brief remarks, noted that the equipment was sourced from CO Diagnostics Incorporated, Utah, USA.

He singled out the equipment’s capabilities which include testing 50 persons at any one time for four different infections.

The equipment can also work in the fields.
As part of the donation, Zaakir revealed that a scientist will travel to Guyana to train staff to operate the equipment.

Additionally, a team from the company where the equipment was sourced will have direct contact with GDF personnel for any consultations on the equipment’s use.