Seventy percent of listed hernia patients treated …to reduce stigma in the lives of many

Dec 20, 2018 News

Hernia has for years, acted as a debilitating disease both physically and socially for men within Guyana. In fact, the disease can be considered as a household name of some sort across the spectrum.
However, while men are more susceptible to the ailment, both men and women have been affected. In Guyana, persons with hernia often have to undergo surgery to function within society; these persons usually have to wait to undergo these life-changing operations.
In light of this, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Retired Brigadier George Lewis stated that up to 70 percent of backlog hernia patients were treated.
This was stated at a recent press conference at GPHC’s research centre on Monday. Hernia in the working demographic can greatly stymie the growth of a country’s economy and socio-cultural atmosphere.
Fifty patients from both GPHC and the New Amsterdam Hospital are now benefitting after 62 surgeries were done in one weekend in December. Eight lead surgeons, thirteen surgical residents as well as added medical personnel spearheaded the operations.
Some of the patients may have had to undergo more than one operation since the process of removing and repairing hernias is complex. The CEO elucidated that most of the remaining patients for treatment, however, would not necessarily be considered as backlog.
Head of Surgery, Navindranauth Rambaran, added that most of the patients that would have gone through hernia operations, within 24 hours would be active again. Hernia operations effect changes in the way persons view themselves as well as society.
In recognizing this, GPHC is combating an ill that carries a stigma of which many are aware.
Furthermore, the stigma that persons with hernia face perpetuates isolation, exclusion and rejection. Many of the men diagnosed with hernia are often forced to give up jobs and social lives. The disease imposes social and economic consequences upon those who have it, which in turn often leads to refusal to go and get treatment.
Inguinal hernia, the protrusion of the intestines or bladder through the abdominal wall or into the inguinal canal in the groin, accounts for more than ninety-six percent of hernia cases. The disease occurs in men due to them being quite susceptible in this region.
Hernia crosses the age spectrum and the operations done featured young children, babies, and adults. The well-known risk factors and causes of the inguinal hernias have been reported as increased abdominal pressure, pre-existing weakness of abdominal muscles, straining during defecation, heavy lighting of weights and in women obesity and pregnancy.
Operation Hernia will continue in 2019 with discussions surrounding the taking of these surgeries and surgeons into the outlying hinterland regions. This is expected to be a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Public Health; also, in exercising inclusion, “Operation Fibroid” is to commence in 2019 to target women; fibroids affect women disproportionately and often present problems in conceiving and complications during pregnancy.
Hernia in the working demographic can greatly stymie the growth of a country’s economy and socio-cultural atmosphere. Many persons are now able to function in ways they could not have before the disease.

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Seventy percent of listed hernia patients treated …to reduce stigma in the lives of many

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