Latest update January 20th, 2025 4:00 AM
Charitable organization donates to GPHC’s Burn Care Unit
The Burn Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) yesterday received a significant contribution from the Caribbean North Charities Foundation (Guyana Burn & Healthcare) in the form of two laptop
Pamela Harakh hands over some of the equipment to Alan Johnson
computers and C’dn$16,500 worth in medical equipment.
The handing over was done in the presence of GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (Ag), Alan Johnson; Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton; Dr. Shilindra Rajkumar; Canadian High Commissioner, Mr. Pierre Giroux and President of the charitable organization, Harry Harakh.
The surgical equipment includes Skin Graft Mesher, Expansion Ratio Cutters, Autoclave Case, Skin Graft Mesher Carrier and Dermatome Blades.
During the presentation, Rajkumar gave a brief overview of the burn care unit. “The unit goes back to a very long time ago. About 20 years ago, it was actually managed by general surgeons and under open wards in the male and female surgical blocks.”
The doctor explained that managing burn patients in open wards was very cruel and painful. “The care was not optimal. Two persons recognized that and they thought that a change should happen.”
Those two persons are Harry Harakh and his wife, Pamela Harakh.
The Burn Care Unit was opened in 2002. In 2000, the Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to build and equip a functional burn care unit.
Following a successful fundraising campaign in 2001, the Foundation shipped materials for the building of the Burn Care Unit which included glass panels, doors, specialized ceiling tiles, beds, monitors and suction pumps.
The foundation has continued to collaborate with the hospital by providing continuing education in burn treatment education to local nurses, keeping them abreast with the latest technologies and strategies for patient care and providing specialized equipment or upgrading existing ones as needed.
Yesterday, the President of the organization said that he will continue to support the unit as long as help is needed.
Dr. Norton said that yesterday’s contribution adds further to the many years of invaluable assistance and longstanding commitment of the foundation to the burn care unit.
“The laptops will help us keep up with the technological advancements by significantly aiding the process of keeping policies and procedures in digital format and the access to ongoing burn care information online,” the Minister said.
He added that the Foundation was instrumental in the establishment of the Burn Care Unit and has since supported the Unit with, equipment, funding, training and educational materials.
“All of their efforts have contributed to better care of thousands of patients which the Burn Care Unit has served,” the Minister noted.
He added, “The Guyana Government is eternally grateful for all of your support and we at the Ministry of Public Health are very enthusiastic about these donations.”
The Canadian High Commissioner said that the two countries have shared a relationship for many years.
“We have to work together and grow together,” Giroux said.
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