– hypertension incidence high
Hundreds of Berbicians have received free medical treatment from members of the Organization for Social and Health Advancement for Guyana/Caribbean (OSHAG), which conducted a one-week outreach recently; many patients were diagnosed with severe hypertension.
Stabroek News caught up with some of the doctors, nurses and volunteers at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Wednesday last as a number of persons waited their turn to be treated.
Nurses/educators; Mavis Charles and Dawn Zimmer-man also distributed pamphlets dealing with health issues to the patients and explained the benefits of eating healthy foods.
Dr James Cort, an internal medicine practitioner, told this newspaper that most of the patients he had seen, especially in the Fyrish area where he was born, were suffering from severe hypertension as well as diabetes and did not know.
He said the patients told him they were “feeling fine” so they never went for medical check-ups. The patients were given medication and advised to follow up with local doctors for further treatment.
Persons have also been diagnosed with over and under acute thyroid problems, asthma and heart conditions.
Cort, who migrated 36 years ago, was pleased to return to offer his services despite having to work in the blackouts that have been plaguing Berbicians with candles and flashlights and without fans.
The 24-member team also included Dr Bertram Saunders, family practitioner/gynaecologist; Dr Lennox Alves, surgeon; Dr Winston Scott and Dr Ronald Daly, ophthalmologists; Dr Delores Gale-Barton of Jamaica and Trevor Atherley, a cardiologist of Barbados.
The team also visited areas including Mibicuri in Black Bush Polder, Fyrish and Liverpool on the Corentyne. An organizer, Carol Trim told Stabroek News that the team, which collaborated Dr Vishwa Mahadeo and an orthopaedic specialist and of the New Amsterdam Hospital, also conducted health lectures at the hospital and held a community forum on cancer.