Thirty Guyanese benefit from surgeries performed by HERO

Aug 11, 2017 News

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is usually visited by different teams of the medical professionals in an effort to provide help to persons in need. The Health and Education Relief Organization (HERO) is one such team that has visited Guyana and recently provided its much appreciated services.
This was acknowledged at a press conference held at GPHC’s Conference Room that was attended by Chief Executive Officer of GPHC, Brigadier George Lewis, Director of Medical and Professional Services Dr. Sheik Amir and Chairperson of GPHC Board, Kesaundra Alves and Public Relations Officer, Mitzy Campbell.
HERO, according to CEO Lewis, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides free high quality health care and education support to countries throughout the Caribbean to achieve its primary objective by conducting annual medical and educational outreach programmes with volunteer staff, as well as specialists within various fields of medical and surgical areas.
Dr. John Mitchell, General/Trauma Surgeon and member of the HERO team in his remarks, said that the team is really happy that GPHC has supported their initiative. He said for a total of 12 years the team has been visiting Guyana. The surgeon explained that the most complex surgeries he has performed in Guyana have been on children since they have “small structures”.
The visiting team comprises four surgeons, inclusive of plastic and vascular surgeons. It also includes nurses, physicians, nurse-practitioners, medical students, pharmacists, radiologists, etc. The surgeon mentioned that most of the members of the team are Guyanese.
Dr. Mitchell noted that the team had visited Region 10 for the past four days, as well as Georgetown, and they are currently helping children in Providence and Mocha who are reading below the grade level.
This year, four programmes were introduced under the name ‘HERO kids’. The team has been trying to reach out to children and “get a better understanding of their needs and better understanding of their facilities…”
Of the 30 operations of different varieties that were performed, 28 were executed at the Georgetown Public Hospital and two at the private hospital, Medical Arts.

(From right) General/Trauma Surgeon Dr. John Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer (ag) Brigadier George Lewis, Director of Medical and Professional Services Dr. Sheik Amir, and Chairperson of GPHC Board, Kesaundra Alves

Dr. Mitchell noted that despite they had anticipated doing some 45 operations, he is thankful that they were able to accomplish 30.
During their one week stay, the teams were “spread out” across Guyana’s administrative regions.
Sessions were also held with some of the transplant staff at GPHC in order to teach them new skills and make “better determinations” according to the doctor.
The team is expected to visit again next March, as well as August, since they normally visit the country twice a year.

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