Dr. Ramesh Nauth Persaud Sugrim deserves a national award.

Dec 25, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – I write to make a cogent petition for Dr. Ramesh Nauth Persaud Sugrim to be bestowed with an appropriate national award for long, arduous, patriotic and sterling services in the health sector in Guyana.

Born and raised at Skeldon, Corentyne, Berbice, the 67-year-old acclaimed medical doctor acquired his academic grounding at the Skeldon Scots School, the Skeldon Lutheran High School and Queen’s College. A Bookers Scholarship, gained at Skeldon Scots School, enabled him to attend the Skeldon Lutheran High School from 1965 to 1970.

Coming from a poor family, Dr. Sugrim confronted very acute challenges in his academic pursuit. While at Skeldon Lutheran High School, he walked the streets on weekends to sell “sweets” (confectioneries) in order to assist in funding his education. At Queen’s College, difficulties in securing suitable boarding and lodging forced him to leave after only two years.

Undaunted in his efforts to develop himself to face the future, in 1972, he gained entry at the University of Guyana and successfully pursued a two-year Certificate Course in Medical Technology. Then fortune struck when he met his wife, Parbattie, who too, successfully completed the course.

He and Parbattie then became employed at the Central Medical Laboratory in Georgetown. A subsequent transfer took him and Parbattie to Skeldon Hospital where he was credited with establishing the Medical Laboratory Department. Later, he was back at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Between 1979 and 1986, he studied in Cuba and qualified as a General Medical Practitioner. On his return to Guyana, he was based at the GPHC.

In 1989, the young doctor was assigned to the Mibicuri Hospital at Black Bush Polder, Corentyne. His affability, work ethic and the quality of his service led to the development of a bond between him and the community. He was seen as the “people’s doctor”.

An attempt to transfer him to the Port Mourant Hospital was therefore met with the community’s disapproval and protest.

In response, the authorities took the decision to reassign him to the GPHC. Finding that decision unacceptable, he boldly resigned from the Public Service and ventured into private practice, working with another doctor for two years.

Thereafter, he started his own private practice at Williamsburg, Corentyne, with the unreserved support and professional assistance of his wife, a Senior Medical Technician.

This venture has brought him fame in and out of Guyana. So far, he has successfully treated thousands of patients in Guyana and beyond its borders. In the English speaking Caribbean region, Dr. Sugrim is the most accomplished physician in the treatment of Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), commonly known as “stroke”. Normally, people throughout Guyana refer to him as the “stroke doctor”.

In 2020, he valiantly battled against a COVID-19 infection in New York, USA. After months of hospitalisation, he won the “battle”. Without any delay, he hurried back to Guyana to continue delivering health care to the people.

His motivation to offer professional medical service to the sick is fuelled by his love for his job, the experience of his arduous upbringing and his humanitarian and religious convictions. Accumulating wealth does not bolster this passion. From time to time, he has been offering optimum services even to those without money. Such generosity transcends the boundaries of race and politics.

The revered medical doctor is a licensed Marriage Officer and a devout Hindu who has been active in the Arya Samaj movement. He performs at Hindu religious functions in his community, and records his own music for pleasure.

The life story of this accomplished doctor can be titled, From Rags to Riches. It was certainly no easy road for this once poor “country boy”, who never gave up in pursuing his dreams. Focus, dedication, discipline and the full and unrestricted support of his wife have brought him through. He selflessly lives to be of service to others.

Who can disagree that this doctor is justly qualified for a suitable national award? The residents of the Corentyne and his large constituency of patients are in support of my call. I humbly and passionately petition the relevant authorities to do justice to Dr. Ramesh Nauth Persaud Sugrim. He deserves such award. Ab samay aa gaya hai! Now is the time!

Sincerely,
Rennie Chester Inniss