The Ministry of Health on Saturday signed a five-year Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) with the National Health and Family Planning Ministry of China to strengthen health policies, human resource training and disease control in both countries.
The China-Guyana Health and Medical Science MoU was signed by Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran and China’s Minister of National Health and Family Planning Li Bin at the Guyana International Con-ference Centre at Liliendaal.
Ramsaran stated that the two countries have developed a solid diplomatic relationship and the work of Chinese medical teams have been greatly appreciated by the local health sector, the private sector and the people.
He said he was looking forward for future visits from Chinese medical teams to help and teach local health professionals. He stated further that Chinese medical teams have distinguished themselves at the Georgetown Public Hospital and at the Linden Hospital, where they execute their mandate to deliver health care services.
Ramsaran called for the current visiting Chinese medical team to visit the Mabaruma and Lethem hospitals in order to “explore the possibilities of medical outreach.” He said it would be accommodating if the team members would not only teach medical workers at the Georgetown Public Hospital but also share their expertise with the far-reaching hospitals.
The Health Ministry, he said, was eager to explore the option of allowing the Chinese faculty to teach at the local medical school, which will allow for the production of a large number of Chinese-trained medical practitioners. Ramsaran also indicated similar interest in the local health sector adopting traditional Chinese herbal medicines.
The MoU would be renewed for another successive five years and if it is quashed any time, Ramsaran said, it will not affect programmes and initiatives.
Li Bin, who is on her first visit to Guyana, said the MoU can achieve a lot. She acknowledged the relationship shared between the two countries, while stating that she was happy to see many Guyanese receiving medical care from the Chinese medical team. She said since 1993, China has deployed 143 medical workers to work in Guyana to provide medical care to Guyanese.
In 2009, the Chinese Health Ministry established a medical eye centre at the Georgetown Public Hospital and so far over 5,000 persons have received medical attention.
Recently, China sent a medical team with advanced ophthalmologists to conduct advanced eye surgery on 100 patients. She said she was relieved to see so many people happy and given the opportunity to see brightly.
Li Bin also visited the Georgetown Public Hospital on Saturday and was taken on an official tour of the institution by Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan. She interacted with a number of patients who benefited from eye surgeries conducted by the current visiting Chinese medical team and children in the Paediatric Ward.
