through partnership with World Paediatrics Project

SEVEN successful scoliosis operations were recently conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in collaboration with the World Paediatrics Project (WPP).
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPHC Robbie Rambarran, during a press briefing on Thursday, told members of the media that GPHC’s partnership with WPP began some time back.
Rambarran said that GPHC and WPP also collaborated with the Office of the First Lady of Guyana.

The WPP, he said, has over 20 years of experience, so GPHC was happy to collaborate with the team of ten doctors from the mission who came to Guyana.
“This first mission we did seven patients. I think there were two males and five females; they were between the ages 14 to 21,” Rambarran said.
The project for conducting these scoliosis surgeries had a cut-off age limit, but was extended as there was a need for this.

According to the US’ National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine. Everyone has normal curves in the spine, and when looked at from behind, the spine appears straight. However, children and teens with scoliosis have an abnormal S-shaped or C-shaped curve of the spine.
Giving a background of how candidates were chosen for the surgeries, Rambarran said that GPHC began by placing an ‘ad’ in the daily newspapers for persons who were diagnosed with scoliosis and had no avenue for surgical treatment or intervention.

To this end, some 30 persons came forward, and screening was done, which subsequently led to the first seven persons receiving surgical intervention.
WPP Programme Director Sigmund Wiggins said that the goal of the project is to ensure that children who need surgical care are able to access it at little to no cost.
While he, too, said that there is generally a cut-off age of about 21 years old, he added that if that patient is in the system, and is unable to access care, the WPP would extend the limit to about the age of 23.

GPHC’s CEO said that there is a clear intention to have this project continue, along with additional subspecialties, as discussions are currently ongoing.
He said: “We intend to have this project continue as well; this project also will have a cardiac mission well not just a cardiac mission to it, there will be several other specialities as the needs arise and the discussions are ongoing.”

Rambarran said that GPHC remains committed to venturing into partnerships that will bring relief to the people of the country in terms of healthcare and other needs as well.