Humanity First Guyana Inc. is a non-governmental (NGO) organisation which has been serving the Guyanese people since 2018. Their motto, ‘serving humanity’ is an accurate description of their mandate as they consistently provide services through a number of activities such as medical outreaches, and cooked meals for the under-privileged.

During an interview with the Sunday Chronicle, Country Director, Jameel Mohamed, who is visiting from Maryland, United States of America (USA) and locally-based Chairman, Maqsood Ahmed Mansoor, discussed some of the activities the organisation has been conducting, as well as future plans.

Humanity First Guyana is part of a larger organisatio — Humanity First International– a charity established in the United Kingdom in 1995 to promote and safeguard human life and dignity. They are now registered in 60 countries and is currently serving in more than 90 countries with a global network of 3,500 volunteers and 400 medical staff.

The organisation’s mandate is to provide immediate disaster relief while developing and nurturing long term projects dedicated to healthcare, education, clean water, vocational training and the care of orphans, in the countries they operate in.

For context, the organisation has been running a programme called ‘Water For Life’ in 19 countries across Asia, Africa and Central America as they believe access to clean water is a right, and not a privilege. Additionally, as part of their ‘Global Health’ programme, they have constructed eight hospitals and are running hundreds of clinics and medical camps worldwide.

The charity first worked in Guyana in 2005 to provide disaster relief after the floods which displaced over 300,000 residents on the coastal plain. Through the Humanity First USA chapter, they were able to provide over US$10,000 in medication to Guyana, along with volunteer doctors.

During the period of flooding, Humanity First USA also worked with the Guyana Embassy in the US to supply three containers of food and medicine, along with US$700,000 in supplies. They were able to serve more than 4,500 patients and distributed some 8,300 meals as part of their flood-relief efforts.

In 2018, Humanity First USA acquired a property in Guyana and converted it into Humanity First Guyana’s country office; that property is located at Lot 198 Oronoque Street, Queenstown, Georgetown and has served as a training facility for the NGO where vocational training in languages, information technology and several other skills are offered.

Since its establishment locally, over 100 Guyanese from all walks of life have enlisted to volunteer their time in service of humanity; some professionals such as doctors have also enlisted to provide their services. Humanity First Guyana has been conducting English as a second language classes for foreigners, especially Venezuelan and Cuban migrants. They have been distributing meals to the under-privileged, and conducting medical outreaches countrywide.

While Mohamed is in Guyana, he will be apart of various engagements to further develop the NGO and its activities. For the next month, there are a number of activities planned, namely, the distribution of 170 food hampers in six locations across Guyana, and will provide 60 children and 100 senior citizens with fresh meals in collaboration with two police stations.

They wrapped up a four-day summer camp on Thursday last which saw some 30 children benefitting from arts and crafts training, as well as sports participation and learning Spanish as a foreign language. In July last, the organisation conducted a medical drive in Linden, Region 10, which saw some 30 patients being diagnosed by a doctor and prescribed medication, while an additional 30 benefitted from blood pressure and blood sugar testing services. Medication, clothes, shoes, and books were also distributed.

The organisation is planning a medical outreach to be held in Linden on September 1, 2021 as well as a medical outreach in Low Wood Village, Region Four, on September 5, 2021. Cooked meals and food hampers will also be distributed at these events.

They are also rapidly working to acquire equipment to establish an information technology lab at their office so youths may be able to benefit from necessary training in computer studies and, so far, they have acquired a few computers.

The services provided are free of cost and the organisation funds its activities strictly by donations. Persons are encouraged to donate and to volunteer; they can contact Mansoor on telephone numbers 226-7634 or 657-7070.