The Ministry of Health yesterday hosted a discussion among health practitioners, specialised in medical imaging, to commemorate the 114th Anniversary of the discovery of X-ray capability by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen.

Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr. Behri Ramsarran at Radiology seminar.

This exercise, which targeted the public and private sectors, sought to recognise the specialists in medical imaging, their difficulties, and recommendations to assist in the way forward. In Guyana, ultrasound, endoscopy and x-ray services are offered at public hospitals, while Magnetic Resonance Imaging (M.R.I) and Computed Tomography (C.T) are available at private hospitals.

The Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, indicated that the Government has been improving the health sector by providing health care facilities equipped with imaging machines throughout the country and outfitting these establishments with skilled personnel to operate the machines. Specific facilities are located in Linden, Diamond, Leonora, Mahaicony, Suddie, Mabaruma and Lethem.

At Radiology seminar held at Regency Suites, Hadfield Street Georgetown.

Cognizant of the fact that the health sector needs more trained personnel, Minister Ramsarran said that in 2006 President Bharrat Jagdeo and former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, hammered out a new initiative which created a faculty of medicine specifically for Guyanese students. The result of this venture has seen a significant increase in the number of students studying medicine in Cuba. Guyana consequently will have an adequate number of doctors employed in hospitals nationwide, along the coast, and in the hinterland region.

Another priority of the Government towards increasing technical personnel is the resuscitation of the Associate Degree Programme in Radiology at the University of Guyana. The Ministry of Health, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), have reviewed the previous curriculum and the revised proposal has been sent to the University for consideration and approval.

Recently, 66 young Guyanese who returned from Cuba to complete their final year in Guyana graduated. Twenty-five persons are currently undergoing training to become medics, and in 2008, 430 young people began studies in three nursing schools, adding to the human recourses in the medical field. (GINA)