Three Guyanese doctors last week Thursday afternoon at Herdmanston Lodge graduated from the Guyana Echocardiography Education Programme, which is a joint initiative among Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Canada, the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Health Science Education, and Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).
Dr. Alexandra Harvey, Dr. Kishore Ramdass and Dr. Ramkarran Ramsackal graduated from the programme while one member of staff from the GPH, Abiola Nelson, received special certification in Basic Ultrasound Principles and Equipment Management, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
Doctors Harvey and Kishore are physicians at the GPH while Dr. Ramsackal works at the New Amsterdam Hospital.
High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana Ambassador David Devine said that he was extremely proud of the collaboration that was formed for the execution of the project, particularly the vital role performed by the University of Calgary, one of Canada’s most prestigious campuses.
“Through the project, the inaugural students will now be able to identify cardiac disease and determine appropriate treatment for patients with the assistance of the machines that were donated,” Devine was quoted as saying by GINA.
He also extended congratulations to the students for completing an extremely rigorous yet beneficial programme, and urged them to use the knowledge to boost health care delivery in Guyana.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran particularly thanked Professor Kishore Narine along with the Canadian High Commissioner for their steadfast support over the years.
“This started about 10 to 15 years ago when Professor Narine came home to give back to the medical fraternity and his country… over the years he has continuously, quietly, supported Guyanese with services that cannot be provided here, in Belgium,” Minister Ramsaran said.
He added that those 60 medical students who will be returning shortly to complete their final year of attachment in Guyana will benefit from the knowledge attained by the three doctors.
The LIBIN Cardiovascular Institute of the University of Calgary provided support for the programme and echocardiography equipment was also donated and it was taught by cardiologist echocardiography specialists and technologist educators from Calgary.
The Libin Cardiovascular Institute and course director Professor Debra Isaac have committed to a five-year programme to provide twice yearly education updates to the graduate doctors and to continue to train new doctors annually through the Guyana Echocardiography Education Programme, GINA added.
