GPHC getting support to offer paediatric heart surgery

Oct 04, 2013 News

In the quest to expand cardiac care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), moves have been made to forge a strategic collaboration with an international charitable organisation to provide paediatric heart surgery.
At a press conference yesterday, media operatives were apprised of the fact that the GPHC and Ministry of Health are already gaining expert support from the International Children’s Heart Foundation (also called the Baby Heart Foundation) based in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States.

From left: Dr Marisa Seepersaud, Dr Raj Kishan Narine, Mr Michael Khan, Dr William Novick and Mr David Wieduwilt

A team from the charitable entity arrived in Guyana a few days ago to assess the facilities of the GPHC in hope of commencing paediatric cardiac operation by next year at no cost to patients or the hospital.
However, ahead of measures being put in place to facilitate operations here, Founder and Medical Director of the Charitable Organisation, Dr. William Novick, said yesterday that patients will be taken abroad for cardiac care. Already some eight children have been screened and will soon be able to benefit from the support of the Foundation.
“This is going to require the commitment of the hospital and the Ministry of Health…in addition to our commitment. Our plan will be to come at least twice a year and to operate on children and educate the local team,” said Dr Novick.
He explained that the development of the local team is a process that could take about seven to10 years, during which time the Foundation will remain committed to supporting Guyana in terms of care for children with heart diseases.
The professionals who will be targeted for training will not only include physicians but also nurses who work in the Intensive Care Unit, the Operating Room, the ECHO-Laboratory, wards, as well as the technicians who operate in all of the related areas.
“It is a comprehensive programme not just for surgery but for everything…anaesthesia, ICU care, pre- and post-operative diagnostic care as well as routine follow-ups for children who have been operated on,” said Dr Novick.
But according to Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Michael Khan, no one has yet been identified for training since the collaboration is a “work in progress…this is a specialised care that is being provided…and we have to have persons who are willing to work in the area of cardiac surgery.”
However, one possible candidate to undergo training is Dr. Marisa Seepersaud, who yesterday expressed an interest in the area of paediatric cardiac surgery. She has held the position of General Paediatric Surgeon at the public hospital for the past 14 months.
According to Dr Novick, the Baby Heart Foundation has been in operation for 20 years and has worked in 31 countries around the world. Dr Novick explained that the purpose of the Foundation is to offer paediatric surgical support and education. Moreover the entity has a team of both staff and volunteers who travel to institutions around the world that are in search of improving all aspects of paediatric cardiac care.
“So our teams come, we spend approximately two to three weeks everywhere that we go and we operate on anywhere from 15 to 30 children, depending on how long or what are capabilities of the local infrastructure,” Dr Novick said.
Novick was yesterday accompanied by the Baby Heart Foundation’s Director of Biomedical/Clinical Engineering, David Wieduwilt, who has already prepared a preliminary list of equipment that must be in place before paediatric surgical operations commence here. The needed equipment, he disclosed, will be donated by the Foundation.
The collaboration with the Foundation was streamlined by Guyana-born Cardiovascular Surgeon, Dr Raj Kishan Narine, who currently practices in Canada but recognised the need for improved cardiac care in Guyana. He pointed out yesterday that one of the important things in addressing cardiac care is the paediatric aspect which includes paediatric cardiology and all supporting services. He mused over the fact that in Guyana “until now we have been unable to meet the need of this care.” However, he observed that the Government through the Ministry of Health has been working “very hard” over the last few years to address this state of affairs.
Moreover, he disclosed that with the support of Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, moves were made to invite Dr Novick and his team for assistance in establishing a sustainable paediatric cardiac programme.