President Donald Ramotar says he is “highly optimistic” that collaboration between government and the Remote Area Medical (RAM) Guyana Incorporated and its US partner mission would continue, when officials from the group paid a courtesy call on him on Tuesday.
The team, comprising RAM Board Chairman Patrick de Groot, Volunteer Director of Operation Stan Brock, Operations Member Jim Massengill and Regional Director Captain Terrence Trapnell, was accompanied by Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said RAM USA has been involved in charitable outreach missions across Guyana since 1993, airlifting patients from remote areas in emergency instances, hosting an active programme on HIV/AIDS in the interior and organising routine visits from agriculture and veterinary experts.
Trapnell told GINA that the programme is being expanded to cater for youth development. He also noted that the president was aware of the organisation, describing the meeting as good for building collaboration between the work of the volunteer mission and that of the ministries.
On Monday and Tuesday the NGO was conducting surgeries, including hysterectomies at the Lethem hospital. In October, it conducted a number of surgeries, including dentistry, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, X- ray, general surgery, internal medicine, radiography, and ophthalmology. Visits were also made to the Mabaruma hospital, GINA said.
The ministry has also partnered with RAM to supplement its efforts with donations of medication, blood, injections and other tools while the team provided the skilled personnel. Guyanese nurses with theatre skills have also been mobilised to work with the RAM team.
