GPHC, St. Joseph Mercy receive dialysis machines

Jul 09, 2016 News

Three of the dialysis machines

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital yesterday received key dialysis machines valued at US$40,000 from an overseas medical school.
Eight of the machines were handed over to the GPHC while the private hospital received two from the University of Vermont Medical School during a brief ceremony in the public hospital compound.
The University’s Division of Nephrology and Hypertension made the needy contribution. Dr. J.R Deep Ford, a former Professor of the medical school, and now an employee of the United Nations, handed over the machines.
According to Ford, the donation of the dialysis machines was initiated by a few Guyanese and their friends having a conversation about the Health System in Guyana.
During the conversation which took place in 2015, the need for dialysis machines was highlighted.
Ford explained that Dr. Virginia Hood, a Professor of Nephrology at the medical school, was present during that conversation.
She was the main architect in identifying and organising the donation of the machines.
He said that the dialysis machines will increase-in no small way-the capacity of Guyana’s health system to serve the many citizens suffering from damaged, dysfunctional or missing kidneys.
Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton expressed gratitude to the medical school for the generous donation.
He said that the machines will go a long way toward strengthening Dialysis treatment at the GPHC.
The Kidney Dialysis Center at the GPHC has been in operation for four years and offers both Peritoneal and Haemodialysis.
Currently, 25 patients are receiving Peritoneal Dialysis and 22 patients are receiving Haemodialysis at the centre.
The centre has two specialists in Peritoneal Dialysis and three registered nurses along with four nursing Assistants involved in the administering of Haemodialysis.
Dr. Norton noted that with the addition of the eight machines, more patients needing dialysis can be accommodated at the centre.
“The GPHC Dialysis Centre continues to provide this life-saving procedure free of cost. However, there still exists a need to further build the capacity of the centre, and the Ministry of Public Health is committed to ensuring that this is done. We cannot do this alone, and therefore we are grateful for the support of the University of Vermont’s Medical School with the donation of the Dialysis Machines,” he stated.
The subject Minister gave his assurance that proper care will be taken of the machines.
He took the opportunity to urge persons to strive at all times to maintain healthy kidneys by having their blood and urine checked for kidney disease, and properly managing their diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Helen Browman, said that they are grateful that the hospital was chosen to be the recipient of the two dialysis machines.

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