First Lady Varshnie Jagdeo yesterday handed over to Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy an eye surgery microscope and hospital supplies for the Suddie Hospital on the Essequibo Coast.
The handing over ceremony took place at the First Lady’s office on Hadfield Street.
According to the First Lady, the microscope was donated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
The donation also included glasses provided by the Guyana Fundraising Trust, skin cream from the Seva International; surgical instruments, and paediatric wheelchairs, all donated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Asked about the value of the donations, Mrs Jagdeo said that she couldn’t ascertain this, but she knew that the microscope alone was worth “thousands of US dollars.”
Meanwhile, another batch of children will leave on February 14 for India to have heart surgeries done. This time 123 children from various parts of the country will travel via London to India, thanks in part to Virgin Atlantic and Caribbean Airlines.
She said that at the moment the organisation is awaiting confirmation of the flight times from a representative of Virgin Atlantic. This international airline will fly the children from Barbados to London and then onwards to India.
Mrs Jagdeo said that the Kids First Fund would like to thank Dr KM Cherian for his generous discount on the surgeries and for his continued support. She also thanked Virgin Atlantic and Caribbean Airlines and all their staff who have made a special effort to help beyond the call of duty.
She also thanked Indian High Commissioner Avinash Gupta and British High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler and Mrs Wheeler for their continued support and the consulate staff for working miracles “with such a large number of visas.”
The First Lady also thanked the Minister of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Guyana. She also lauded the staff of the Guyana High Commission in the UK and in India, Edward B. Beharry & Co Ltd, Fogarty’s, Guyana Stores, Executive Bus Charter Service, the private sector, the families of the patients and the general public who donated to help raise funds to pay for the surgeries.
Also the First Lady thanked Kids First supporters in the UK who will be opening their hearts and homes to the children while they are there. The children who will undergo surgery are Adrian Ricardo Beharri of Berbice, Jamie Jovonie Peters of Linden, Davindralall Dabidyal of Berbice, Mandissa Amatolah Cameron of Sophia, Kuntie Kumari Rajaram of Strathspey, Levi Lynton Johnson of Tuschen, Jasoda Narayan of Wakenaam, Destiny Shermilla De Ally of Agricola, Requel William of Linden, Deokie Harripersaud of Kitty, Aneesa Agard of Queenstown and Cynthia Collins of Blairmont.
