TWO patients of the Pediatric Unit of the New Amsterdam Hospital were medivacked to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, after their health deteriorated rapidly, requiring the need for urgent medical care.

Regional Chairman, Permaul David Armogan, told reporters that due to the protest action, which resulted in road blockage along the West Coast of Berbice, an alternative mode of transportation had to be used for the children aged 6 and 12.

“They have certain diseases that we could not treat here and there was need for them to be transported to the Georgetown Hospital. We were hoping that the road would have been cleared, so we would have been able to take them by road with the ambulance. Unfortunately, the road was still blocked… the children were deteriorating. Doctor Sharma made a call to someone she knew… I want to thank Mr Gouveia of Air Services for getting the medivac to come at Rose Hall (East Canje) aback the defunct sugar estate to assist in transporting the children,” the chairman said.

Since it was night and East Canje area had no runway lights to guide the aircraft, the residents had to come up with a creative solution.

They assembled several vehicles and switched on the lights to illuminate the runway so that the helicopter could land and take the children away.

Recently-appointed Regional Health Officer, Dr Vishalya Sharma, expressed gratitude to
Michael Gouveia, Dr. Nigel Langhorne, Emil Jahan, the Management and staff of the Albion and Rose Hall estates, Dr. Vassana Henry and team and members of the public for their support during this process.