A HEALTH fair in keeping with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHCs) 20th anniversary celebration, saw over 150 persons receiving vaccines they were lacking such as tetanus; hepatitis B; Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) and Yellow Fever.

The fair was hosted on Wednesday at the hospital’s East Street parking lot and saw scores of other Guyanese receiving a range of medical care, supplies and information.
Speaking on the large number of persons vaccinated, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer (ag) at the Public Health Ministry, Nalinie Bass-Sutton said:

“After discussing with them and checking their clinic cards for previous vaccines – because they are certain vaccines that you cannot administer if the person is already immunised – and, from doing so, that’s how we totaled over 150 persons not being fully immunised in our country.”

She added that the persons came from the general public and the GPHC, while the vaccinations coincide with Guyana’s celebration of Vaccination Week in the Americas from April 20-27, 2019.

“To persons who really don’t know their immunisation status, contact any health facility within the length and breadth of Guyana because that is what the facilities are there for,” Bass-Sutton encouraged.

Other representation at the fair came from the Guyana Dental Association, which conducted teeth cleaning and extraction; the National Blood Bank, which collected blood donations; the hospital’s Eye Clinic, which facilitated eye testing; and several other departments within the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), the Guyana Diabetic Association (GDA), the Guyana Red Cross Society, the International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) and others, shared supplies and information on various health issues.

“We had a very large turn out,” the fair’s moderator, Midwife Danelle Lee-Niles, said.
In keeping with the booth he was a part of, First Aid Instructor and First Responder at the Guyana Red Cross Society, Collis DeAbreu, told the newspaper that the common Guyanese needs to know the proper hand placement and breathe administration during Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for adults and babies.

“The common Guyanese should know this information because it is very important and fundamental. Accidents happen every day, people die every day and we help to prevent harm from coming to persons [with CPR knowledge),” he said.

Similarly, representative at the GDA, Joan Alonzo, stated that Guyanese must begin to seek out the right medical sources to address their diabetic condition.
“Some diabetics are in denial and they tend to want to switch to herbs. They feel if they use carilla bitters and various other things like cinnamon and spice [they will get better]. But, the problem is, you cannot mix the herbal treatment and the patent medication. So, the point is, get to the doctor early; know what your status is early and work with it,” she encouraged.

Meanwhile, the IPA was able to promote its new line of blood pressure apparatus.

The hospital’s Human Resources Department also conducted on-the-spot interviews and document collection from some 40 persons who are interested in working in the health sector.

“The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation is a dynamic organisation and it lends for growth. Outside of that, as management, we recognise that succession planning is important so we’re always happy to have an influx of young people come in,” Industrial Relations Officer, Jermain Hermanstein said.
Today, in continuation of its anniversary celebration, the GPHC will host a grand cultural evening at 19:00hrs at the Umana Yana.