By Cindy Parkinson
FIFTY Guyanese now have a new lease on life after benefitting from free joint- replacement surgeries which were performed by Operation Walk Maryland at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

The not-for-profit organisation, which is based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, initially had a list of more than 70 patients who needed hip or knee surgery. Unfortunately, only 50 patients could have been accommodated and those surgeries were done during a one-week period.

The Ministry of Health, on Tuesday evening, held a reception for the organisation’s team of doctors that performed the surgeries, at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

GPHC’s Head of Orthopedics, Dr. David Samaroo, told the Guyana Chronicle that the team of doctors arrived in Guyana a week ago. He said that five of the 50 patients had both joints replaced.

“Those patients spent an average of just 24 hours in the hospital with no major disruption of services,” Dr. Samaroo added.

He said that the doctors planned their trip ahead of time and had asked their Guyanese counterparts to screen patients before they arrived.

“From a group of about 400 patients that we had screened, we narrowed that number down to about 70 to 80 patients. When Operation Walk Maryland came into the country, they actually reduced that number to 50 patients because their aim was to get 50 surgeries done,” he said.

Operation Walk was founded by Dr. Lawrence D. Dorr in 1996 to embark on surgical missions in developing countries. Among other things, the aim was to build relationships with in-country hospitals and physicians; secure implants and other necessary medical supply donations, and build teams of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals who were willing to volunteer

Dr. Samaroo told this publication that the organisation came to Guyana for the first time in 2018 and returned in 2019.

He explained that 20 of the 24 Operation Walk groups are based in the United States of America, England, Canada and Thailand.

Speaking specifically about the partnership, Dr. Samaroo said that the GPHC provided the operating room and the local doctors, nurses and physiotherapists.

“This visit by Operation Walk provided an opportunity for our local surgeons as well as our surgeons who are trainees to witness first-hand and participate in surgeries in a very efficient manner,” he said.

Dr. Samaroo used the opportunity to extend his gratitude to Operation Walk Maryland on behalf of himself, the GPHC and country’s health sector.

He also thanked Zimmer, the manufacturer of the joint replacements which were used in the surgeries. The estimated cost of the venture was between $120- $125 million, he said.

According to the doctor, from 2018 to present, Operation Walk Maryland has performed surgeries on 150 patients.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, thanked the team on behalf of himself and the Government of Guyana for the phenomenal work that they have done to help the people of Guyana.

“We will want this partnership to progress… and thinking of making Guyana a second home for Operation Walk Maryland and if we can achieve that, I think that it will be a wonderful thing for all of us,” he said.