Dear Editor,
Allow me to briefly respond to recent discourse in Stabroek News and other publications regarding President Granger’s diagnosis. I’ve noticed several Guyanese pundits singing a similar tune being: why doesn’t the president choose to receive treatment in Guyana like all others who have access to less financial resources. Editor it goes without saying that Guyana performs abysmally in almost every global health index. Everything considered, I’d like to contribute a personal story which should further shed light on the honourable president’s decision.
Some time back, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for which I was treated in Canada with chemotherapy and radiation and was afterwards deemed as being in remission. Importantly, this is not to be conflated with the president’s illness which is Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Thereafter, I went for a checkup at CIG (Cancer Institute of Guyana) and the oncologist after seeing previous scans done in Toronto and an updated scan at the CIG, related to me that the cancer had metastasized. After hearing this devastating news, I quickly traveled back to Canada anticipating that my Canadian oncologist would recommend something along the lines of bone marrow and/or immunotherapy treatment. Yet to my total confoundment, he looked at the exact same scans that were done in Guyana and proclaimed that I was still in remission. What’s even more astonishing was that he made this diagnosis after scanning all the images within 5-7 minutes. I implored him to do another scan right after hearing this revelation and his scan essentially mirrored that of the one done at the CIG. In other words, both doctors had access to the exact same CT scans!
Editor, I am by no means, overlooking the good work that the CIG and its medical director from India, Dr. Chakraborty has done for the Guyanese people. On the other hand, it is truly, an asinine notion that President Granger should receive his cancer treatment in Guyana. I believe I speak on behalf of all Guyanese when I say God’s blessings to the honourable President in his fight against cancer.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
