THE Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) in collaboration with A. Ally and Son’s Limited, Mohamed’s Enterprise and Caricom Auto Sales, on Wednesday, donated two hearses to the Ministry of Health to be used at the New Amsterdam Hospital, Region Six.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony said that the two vehicles will service residents of Regions Five and Six, in an effort to allow for their last rites to be carried out with dignity and respect.
He noted that the donation complements the construction of a mortuary in New Amsterdam, Region Six, done by the government in collaboration with the CIOG.

Minister Anthony thanked the donors and noted that the good gesture comes at an opportune time as residents of Regions Five and Six have encountered issues with the transportation of their deceased relatives.
The CIOG, recognising the problem, reached out to its donors and solicited their help to acquire the two vehicles.

“The Government of Guyana would have invested in creating a new mortuary and what we are seeking to do with this new collaboration is for us to have a joint partnership managing the facility and the responsibilities of that.

As a prerequisite to opening the facility, we know that a lot of people would have challenges in getting their dead relatives from the site where they died to the mortuary and sometimes to the mortuary to take them back home or take them to the cemetery, and what we want to ensure is that the deceased persons last rites are done in the right way; give that person the dignity that they deserve,” said Minister Anthony.

The Health Minister also noted that the CIOG, over the years, has been helpful to the government, playing a major role in the organisation of medical outreaches as well as health and COVID-19 vaccination drives across the country.

CIOG’s Deputy-President (ag) Gulzar Namdar noted that the organisation intends to continue supporting the government in its efforts to make health care accessible to the people of Guyana, pointing out that community service is one of its core principles.