The Guyana Medical Relief (GMR), a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, California says it saw 600 patients in its outreach at Mahaicony on Sunday.
A statement from the group yesterday said it has embarked on a series of outreaches in the country.
The six-hour outreach in Mahaicony had catered for 300 patients but ended up seeing double that number.
Among the services offered were dental filling, cleaning and extractions, eye testing by Da Silva Optical, prostate cancer screenings, courtesy discounts provided by Woodlands Hospital, HIV screening through the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, breast cancer screenings and blood pressure and blood sugar screenings. The release said that many had to be turned back because of time constraints.
Hampers, toys and hygiene kits were distributed. These included donations from Edward B. Beharry and Company, Ltd., Food for the Poor, the Rotary Clubs of Georgetown and New Amsterdam and Sueria Manufacturing. This outreach also saw the introduction of massage therapy and facial make up lessons done by Samantha Thuknauth and Alicia Leca of Aspara Hair and Facial respectively.
The release said that DaSilva Optical, represented by Shannon DaSilva saw 72 people, diagnosed two glaucoma cases, seven cataracts and one diabetic retinopathy case. Shameena Haniff of the CIOG provided transportation to the venue from Georgetown to Mahaicony. The Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre saw 75 patients in five hours and did 65 cleaning and polishing and many extractions. The general physicians saw hundreds of patients.
GMR says it has co-sponsored two additional organizations: the Guyana Medical Mission, headed by Dr. James Cort, and the Canada Guyana Outreach Mission, headed by Yvonne Triesmann. Theses NGOs are due to be in the country in early November. Residents of Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will benefit from these two missions.
A number of groups collaborated including the US Embassy’s Humani-tarian Assistance Program, the Guyana Cancer Foundation, the Humanity First Foundation and the New Horizons team.
GMR has been in existence for 35 years. It says it has sent over US$100 Million in medical supplies and projects to various selected hospitals and communities in Guyana and serves health institutions in the country, including Suddie, New Amsterdam, Mahaicony, Bartica, Linden and GPHC. GMR says it has also built VIA clinics at the Suddie, Mahaicony and Bartica Hospitals in Guyana, and has refurbished the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Port Mourant Hospital.
