Latest update September 22nd, 2026 10:30 AM
Diabetic Foot Clinic reduces limb amputations by 50 percent
Local diabetic related amputations have been reduced by 50 percent, thanks to the multi-disciplinary approach to patient care at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Diabetic Foot Clinic.
Dr. Kumar Sukhraj
Diabetes, a chronic non-communicable disease, is not only a problem in Guyana but worldwide.
And, to effectively reduce amputations of limbs, in February 2008, GPHC was awarded a $97,460 grant from the Canadian-Caribbean Cooperation Fund, as the Canadian government’s contribution towards the setting up of the Diabetic Foot Clinic (DFC).
According to Dr. Kumar Sukhraj, Head of the Clinic, the facility deals with all foot complications caused by peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy.
Dr. Sukhraj said that from its inception the main aim of the clinic was to reduce the percentage of amputations caused by foot ulcers of diabetic patients. Within the first year, the Diabetic Foot Clinic was able to do so by 43 percent.
Amputating limbs is a last resort, since some persons find difficulty in accepting or adjusting to a life without a limb, mainly a foot. As such, all efforts are made to care for patients with foot ulcers. The clinic practices a multi-disciplinary approach of counseling and education on exercise, diet and lifestyle change.
Therefore, in most amputation cases, the patient would have joined the clinic late. He said that major amputations are done by the hospital’s surgical service with follow-up care provided by the clinic. Meanwhile, minor amputations such as removing a toe are done by the clinic. This helps to prevent major amputations.
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