NORTHWELL HEALTH – New York’s largest healthcare provider – on Saturday, donated medical equipment worth about US$120,000 (G$24 million) to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to help boost the services offered to the public.

The equipment donated include a microscope, bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, along with laparoscopic training boxes.

“You can’t just come here and talk about partnership and how you’re going to help, you have to show it and I’m very excited that this is the first supply shipment that we are able to help GPHC coordinate, that will help boost service,” Dr. Eric Cioe Peña, Director of Global Health, Northwell Health, said at the handing over ceremony.

The partnership, aimed to address disparities in Guyana by supporting and enhancing a variety of services; also looks to address disparities in New York by broadening cross-cultural understanding with the communities of Little Guyana in Queens – as well as surrounding neighbourhoods that make up the fifth largest immigrant population in New York City.

“Eventually, when one of the BiPAP machines stop working, gives an error code… I really hope that it doesn’t go to where I’ve see many of the equipment pieces go in many countries around the world, which I like to call the equipment graveyard,” he said.

He stated that when there is need for help with fixing machines, Northwell Health will assist.
“It’s only worth its value when it can deliver health care and service to people in Guyana,” he shared.

Meanwhile, the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GPHC, Robbie Rambarran, said Northwell Health has made a significant impact since the formation of the partnership with Guyana.

“There are severe challenges with our nursing; there is a leadership programme that is ongoing. It is a weekly engagement virtually, and we have already seen the little impacts it is making,” Rambarran said.
Rambarran assured Dr. Peña that the equipment will be put to use as early as Monday.

Additionally, advisor to the Health Ministry, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that Guyana was honoured and privileged to be associated with Northwell Health.

“We want to let you know that we don’t see the partnership as one way, we know what you bring for tertiary healthcare and specialist care, but we also have innovations here that we hope you can learn from,” Dr. Ramsammy, a former Health Minister, said.

Adding to Dr. Ramsammy’s remarks was Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, who lauded the expertise that Northwell Health brings to Guyana.

“I think your doctors, when they come down, they can experience that and they can also learn from our practices here. We can also offer a lot of things that are not seen in other countries like tropical medicine,” Minister Anthony said.

Northwell Health is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 22 hospitals, 830 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians.
They care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond.