The Caribbean North Charities Foundation on Tuesday donated skin grafting equipment to the Burn Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in continuation of a relationship of support established more than a decade ago.
According to a press release from the Canadian High Commission, the Canadian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has been “instrumental from inception” in the establishment of the Burn Care Unit at the GPHC. This, the release said, is inclusive of “the purchasing and shipment of building materials for the unit” and since then, “the foundation has supported the Unit with funding, equipment, training and educational materials.”
Head of the Burn Care Unit, Dr Rajkumar said “the mortality rate of burn victims used to be 50 % and this rate had been reduced to 17% since the Unit became operational.”
Handing over the equipment on behalf of the Foundation, which is located at Richmond Hill, Ontario, were Harry and Pamela Harakh, co- founders of the organisation.
The Foundation, which was established 12 years ago, has been credited as having “built and equipped a critical burn unit which has now served over thousands of patients.” In addition, it has “provided the Georgetown Hospital with reconditioned medical equipment donated by Canadian medical Centres.” The release also said the Foundation organises training of medical practitioners in Guyana and in Canada.
Harry Harakh was quoted as saying that the Foundation’s has taken a “capacity building” approach in its work and was fully confident in the Unit’s team. Further, he said, “Canadians are generous people,” and the foundation’s support came from persons all over Canada.
GPHC’s CEO Michael Khan said the Foundation’s “significant contribution” aided the “well-being of patients.”
Also present at the handing over was Charge d’ Affaires of the Canadian High Commission, Robert Hart, who commended the work of the Foundation. He also stated that he was proud of the generosity of Canadians, who care for persons in other countries, as well as the strong ties between Canada and Guyana.
