— President successfully completes first round of medical treatment
— expected to commence radiotherapy in early April

PRESIDENT David Granger’s health is steadily improving. He has successfully completed the first phase of medical treatment for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and has returned to Guyana, Halim Majeed, Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba said.

According to the American Cancer Society, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (also known as non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, NHL, or sometimes just lymphoma) is a cancer that starts in the white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system.
Since his diagnosis late October 2018, President Granger has been receiving medical treatment at Cuba’s Centro de Investigaciones Medico Quirurgicas (CIMEQ). During his periodic visits to Cuba, he underwent chemotherapy.

In a statement on Saturday, Ambassador Majeed said President Granger completed the first phase of his medical treatment in the Republic of Cuba. “The Cuban medical specialists who are overseeing his medical care for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma have expressed their full satisfaction with the President’s response to chemotherapy and his overall physical well-being,” Ambassador Majeed detailed.

He said based on an expert’s evaluation of the President’s medical condition, it has been concluded that it is no longer necessary for him to undergo chemotherapy.
“President Granger is expected to commence radiotherapy in early April 2019,” the ambassador further disclosed.
On Friday, Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla paid a courtesy call on President Granger and congratulated him on the positive response to the medical treatment, Ambassador Majeed said.

The President noted that this is the third time that Minister Bruno Rodriguez has visited him since he has been undergoing medical care in Cuba.
“The Cuban foreign minister briefed President Granger on the present political and economic situation in Cuba and praised Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for consistently supporting Cuba. He said that Cuba sees the Caribbean as an extended family and informed President Granger that a Caribbean Heroes Park will be open next month in Havana,” the ambassador detailed.

President Granger has acknowledged the sacrifices made by Cubans nationally and internationally and explained that from his point of view, Cuba was a success story in spite of all the hardships the country was enduring. He took the opportunity of again expressing gratitude to Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel; First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, Army General Raul Castro Ruz; Narciso Reinaldo Amador Socorro, Ambassador of Cuba in Guyana, and the medical specialists at CIMEQ.

The President, who is accompanied by his wife Sandra Granger, the First Lady, and ADC to the President, Major Mark St. Claire returned to Guyana on Saturday.