–to help patients with obesity problems

DR. WEI WEN-GUANG of the 17th Chinese Medical Brigade recently performed for the first time in Guyana an Acupoint Catgut embedding procedure for three obese patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Acupoint Catgut embedding is a useful therapy for weight management and widely applied in China and involves the implantation of absorbable catgut suture at acupoints.
The doctor identified one of the three patients as a 48-year-old woman from Georgetown. He said she accepted the procedure to lose weight because she suffered low back pain and knee arthritis for several years as a result of being overweight.
She is currently being treated at the acupuncture clinic at the GPHC and she bravely chose the new method after being introduced to it by Doctor Wei.
“After the treatment, she did not feel uncomfortable and said that she would continue to accept the follow-up treatment and lose weight soon,” the doctor said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Victor Allen of the Rehabilitation Department and Dr. Onica Higgins of the Anesthesiology Department were also exposed to the technique of catgut embedding.
They had a discussion with Dr. Wei on acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. It was pointed out that Dr. Allen will be heading to China to study and learn more techniques and theories.
“As a common problem of public health, obesity is gaining more and more attention and catgut-embedding can be used as an effective and safe method to lose weight and will become another option for Guyanese who may need this type of service,” Dr. Wei told the Sunday Chronicle.