GPHC gets new ultrasound machine

Jun 08, 2016 News

It is no secret that the public health sector in Guyana is in dire need of adequate resources to efficiently address the medical needs of the nation. The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is no stranger to this

From left: Dr. Axelrod, Gillian Battino, Dr. Wilson (GPHC), Ministry of Public Health Permanent Secretary Trevor Thomas and Dr. Schmidt.

deficiency. In an effort to assist the GPHC to alleviate this, RAD-AID International made a timely donation yesterday of a portable ultrasound machine to the public hospital. RAD-AID is one of the largest radiology aid organisations in the world.

Chairing the handing over ceremony was head of the Accident and Emergency Department of the GPHC, Dr. Zulfikar Bux. He told those in attendance, that he had made contact with the organisation to offer assistance in the hospital’s radiology services, specifically in the emergency department. Within months of making contact, the organisation sent representatives to do a site visit in November 2015 to ascertain how much help they can provide.
Bux further commented that “this is just the smallest of the plans they (RAD-AID) have to develop radiology services in Guyana.” Further, he noted “We are hoping that before the year is out we can start a residency program in radiology.”
The aim of the residency program is to train radiologists. This is expected to improve radiology services in respect of the interpretation of radiological films and further to make correct diagnoses. Bux stressed the importance of having such an expensive piece of equipment, noting that emergency ultrasound is becoming the number one life saving tool in an emergency room. The device will is expected to reduce the number of tests needed to diagnose a patient.
The Department head also hinted to future assistance from RAD-AID when he stated that “…there are plans also to assist with other donations of equipment to help the public sector to improve its diagnostic capabilities in radiology.”
According to Bux, the collaboration between the Hospital and the organisation has led to the procurement of two new CT-Scanners which are in the process of arriving in Guyana.
Radiologist and Director of RAD-AID, Latin America, Gillian Battino, told the gathering that “…the goal of RAD-AID is to improve and optimize access to medical imaging services, so that public health initiatives can be optimally recognized and implemented.” Battino stated that her organisation is a full service body offering a wide variety of services in the field of medical imaging.
Accompanying Battino was Dr. Axelrod who is the President of the RAD-AID institution in Long Island, USA and Dr. Schmidt who is RAD-AID’s equipment implementation specialist.
Also speaking to the attendees was Chief Executive Officer (ag) and Director of Medical and Professional Services at GPHC, Dr. Sheik Amir who expressed his excitement about the Residency Program. He commented that “…it’s not just coming and donating things, this is for keeps…training local staff to continue onwards.”
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health Trevor Thomas during his remarks declared that there is an increasing demand for services and timely diagnoses which are critical to advancing public health care. Addressing the ever prevalent complaints about slow services provided by public health care workers Thomas stressed the point that persons turning up at the GPHC knowing that there is a new ultrasound machine, should not have to wait days and weeks for results.