On Tuesday the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) received equipment worth $ 26,912,074 (US $ 128, 817) from the Chinese Embassy in cooperation with the Chinese Medical Brigade in Guyana.
At the handover ceremony at the GPHC, the hospital’s CEO (CEO), Brigadier George Lewis, said the equipment will not only help the facility improve its services but also offer new services.
“The equipment will go a long way in improving healthcare at Georgetown hospital, a long way in terms of what we can offer our patients here,” he noted.
The Newsroom learned that most equipment will be used by the Anesthesiology department while one item – ‘Abdominal transplant Retractor’ was never owned by the hospital before.
Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Cui Jianchun noted that the donation was a testament to the good relations between the two countries while other health officials touched on further engagement to promote the local healthcare system.
The Chair of the GPHC Board of Directors, Dr. Madan Rambarran needed help in pathology.
“One of the areas I need to remodel and go to a modern facility in is the field of pathology and forensic medicine. Previous Chinese delegations are coming and I was kind enough to throw this to them and I would like the Ambassador…[to look at] if we can get involved in a bigger project to look for a pathology service, ”he said.
The Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, who also signed the agreement with the Chinese team, needed more cooperation.
He said “we would like to look for new ways of how we can expand the services we offer and not only get people to come, but maybe send some of our doctors too … so we can specialize some more of our doctors. ”
The Chinese Government has supported Guyana in several areas during the past year including donating medical equipment and masks to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.