The Diamond Diagnostic Centre has treated over 75,000 patients since its opening last October and has continued to provide state-of-the-art health care to persons who travel across the country to access its services Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
The facility celebrated its first anniversary last Saturday and has since launched a number of activities to commemorate the occasion. Ramsaran, members of the Cuban delegation, beneficiaries of health care services and final year students attended the event to reflect on the Centre’s achievements.
Persons from across the region as well as from Regions Two and Ten show up each day at the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital at Diamond for free medical attention. According to reports as many as 520 patients are treated at the centre daily. It has also treated 321 critically ill patients during the past twelve months.
The Centre boasts a diagnostic area equipped with x-ray, ultrasound, and endoscopy equipment; a clinical laboratory, an ophthalmology unit, a dental clinic area. It also boasts an accident and emergency service, an intensive care unit (ICU) and an ambulance service. Ramsaran said the ICU facility has treated 366 patients and it has greatly reduced the pressure on the Georgetown Hospital. It has also reduced transportation costs for many patients who otherwise would have had to access treatment at the city hospital.
Ramsaran said the Centre cost about $130 million exclusive of its equipment. He noted that Cuba also aided in the construction of the Diamond facility and similar ones by providing technical help in the form of architects. Cuba has also donated medical equipment valued at about US$2 million and has from 2006 provided medical staff including doctors, nurses and medical technicians, for at least five years. Two local medical students completing some of their final year studies here have been deployed to the Diamond centre. Ramsaran said too that several community outreaches will be hosted.
Post graduate training
in medicine
Meanwhile, he said students who benefited from Cuban scholarships may be afforded an opportunity to pursue post graduate studies in that country. More than 700 Guyanese will be trained as doctors in Cuba; Ramsaran said adding that about 66 final year students have already returned to complete a segment of their training here.
Dr Emanuel Perez Head of Cuban Medical Training in Guyana explained that students were now returning to their home countries and have been deployed to hospitals close to their home towns. He said this would allow them much needed practical experience and prepare them to serve their countries.
According to Ramsaran, Guyanese medical students who have been awarded scholarships “are obliged to serve” and will have the opportunity to return to Cuba to pursue post-grad studies based on their service to Guyana. He pointed out that the students, especially those from rural areas, will have to return to their home towns to serve their people.
Mission Miracle
Ramsaran also said that eye care will be at the forefront of medical care at the Centre for the next two months with the start of Phase Two of Mission Miracle. The project is funded jointly by the Cuban, Venezuelan and Guyanese governments and was reintroduced last month.
During the first phase of the project more than 40,000 persons were screened countrywide and 5,000 were sent to Cuba for surgery. Special attention was placed on remote and vulnerable areas and indigenous communities, the minister said. Since the programme restarted 50 patients suffering from cataracts were sent to Cuba and 37 are expected to be sent for surgery on Monday.
A team of Cuban and Venezuelan eye care specialists has been providing additional support to the staff posted at the Centre in diagnosing acute eye conditions. However, Ramsaran said the team will be going to other areas to screen persons including at the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara from 8 am to 2pm on October 20, 22 and 24.
Ramsaran noted that the patients sent to Cuba are given a ‘pocket piece’ of Cdn$50 while treatment is free of cost.
Cuban Ambassador Pedro Artega said his country has been providing Guyana with medical cooperation continuously for thirty-two years. He also said that although Cuba has been devastated by two hurricanes recently it has continued this support. Ramsaran echoed the ambassador’s statements as Guyanese patients were already in Cuba when the hurricanes struck but their care was not jeopardised. He said this demonstrated Cuba’s response mechanism to disasters.
The event was hosted at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre on Wednesday.
