- 13 children discharged after cardiac procedures at GPHC
THIRTEEN children with congenital heart defects have been successfully treated and discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), following a five-day paediatric cardiac collaboration involving more than 50 local medical professionals and 18 specialists from Apollo Hospitals in India.
The initiative, held from September 28 to October 2, 2026, resulted in 16 cardiac procedures, including 10 complex open-heart surgeries, three device closures and three diagnostic catheterisations, as efforts continue to reduce the number of children awaiting specialised heart treatment in Guyana.
Spearheaded by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the collaboration brought together local and international medical teams to provide treatment for children with heart conditions present from birth.
Some patients required more than one procedure during the intervention, which marked GPHC’s third paediatric cardiac surgical programme for 2026 and Apollo Hospitals’ first surgical heart collaboration in the western hemisphere.
The visiting team was led by cardiac surgeon Dr Kumar Gaurav, while GPHC’s Head of Paediatrics, Dr Tarik Davidson, coordinated the local medical team.
The specialists worked together to perform surgeries, conduct procedures in the hospital’s Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory and monitor the children throughout their recovery.
Device closures involve inserting a small device to seal certain openings in the heart, while diagnostic catheterisation allows doctors to examine the heart and its blood vessels using a thin, flexible tube.
Beyond the immediate treatment provided, the collaboration also created opportunities for knowledge-sharing and practical training, helping to strengthen GPHC’s capacity to deliver specialised paediatric cardiac care.
Additional treatment planned overseas
As part of the continuing effort to address the backlog, six other children have been identified for surgery in India, because their conditions are particularly complex and may require advanced post-operative life support that is not currently available in Guyana.
The Government of Guyana has committed to covering the expenses associated with treatment for the six children and their families.
GPHC is also preparing for another paediatric cardiac mission in December, in collaboration with Gift of Life International, during which approximately 10 open-heart surgeries are expected to be performed.
Meanwhile, Operation Echo is helping to address the backlog of children awaiting echocardiograms, ultrasound examinations used to assess the structure and function of the heart.
A team from Northwell Health is conducting the examinations at the GPHC, while another team from Calgary, Canada, is expected to arrive later this month.
Children found to require surgical intervention will be added to the waiting list for further treatment. At least three additional paediatric cardiac programmes are also scheduled for 2027.
The continuing initiatives are intended to expand access to specialised treatment, reduce waiting times and strengthen local medical expertise, allowing more children with heart conditions to receive care in Guyana.
For families affected by congenital heart disease, the programmes offer renewed opportunities for treatment and recovery, while helping to build the country’s capacity to manage increasingly complex paediatric cardiac cases.
