With the rising number of Venezuelans settling in Mabaruma and facing various challenges, the Guyana Medical Relief (GMR) spearheaded a three-day outreach to provide them with medical and dental treatment and even facilitated immigration services.
The GMR collaborated with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Migrant Support Network (MSN) to conduct the medical and dental outreach.
President of the GMR, Sharir Chan, told Stabroek News (SN) that his organisation was saddened at the dire circumstances of the immigrants and saw the need to reach out. Over 800 people, including residents of Mabaruma, benefited from the outreach that was held earlier this month in an effort to bring some ease to the sufferings of residents and the Venezuelans.
The services they received included VIA cervical cancer screenings, HIV testing and counselling, paediatric care, dermatology, family planning, anesthesiology and pain control, general medicine, and internal medicine.
The Venezuelans, who had recently arrived, were vaccinated and received assistance with immigration matters, which included extension-of-stay applications.
A poignant example of the importance of the outreach occurred when a resident, Irma Prince, was diagnosed with stage two cervical cancer.
Chan promised that the GMR would be following up with her to ensure that she receives the treatment she needs. “We are working fervently to get Irma to the Cancer Institute of Georgetown before her cancer spreads further. She needs radiation, both external and internal, immediately,” he said.
Meanwhile, the team observed that many of the Venezuelans, especially those from the Warrau tribe, were hungry and were unsure of where their next meal was coming from. The team was able to provide them with porridge, especially the children as well the women, some of whom were nursing babies.
The volunteers also presented personal care packages to the residents and immigrants.
Chan said he became emotional upon seeing the conditions under which the immigrants were living. He noted that he was touched at the “humility and willingness of the people of the people of Mabaruma to accept the many unfortunate Venezuelan migrants,” despite not having too much themselves.
Some of the immigrants have taken up residence on the Kumaka wharf, where they sleep in hammocks that are strung across the stalls. There are also hundreds of immigrants from the indigenous Warrau tribe who speak their own language. They have been given permission to stay at Khan’s Hill, Yarakita, Kamwatta and Whitewater and have built several camps there using small tree trunks for the floors and palm leaves for the roofs.
Chan expressed his gratitude to the Region One administration and the council chairman Brentnol Ashley, as well as the Regional Health Officer Dr Latchmie Lall and the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer and staff for their welcome and hospitality.
He also observed this is the first outreach for the team from the IOM, and that “they did an excellent job in controlling the crowd that began from early morning.” In addition, he said, the head of the IOM, Robert Netiello, along with the UNFPA and other Agencies, have made the outreach possible in just a short time and contributed tremendously to its success.
The GMR president thanked the medical and dental team for their “diligence and patience,” which “resulted in us seeing so many patients….”
The team of doctors were: Latoya Dhall, Ravi Hardyal, Javid Aziz, Rishiram Dubraj, Baldeo Singh, Sarah Benjamin, Natasha Paul, Desiree Ross, Abigail Ghent, and Mark Reddi.
The dental team included Dr Meer Khan, Dr Amanda Torres, Candacie Torrington, Bibi Ali and Dr Sergio Africano.
Chan also expressed appreciation for the kind efforts of the donors, including, Food for the Poor, Twins Manufacturing, Beharry Group, Rayaadul Hakh Rice Industries and Dyal Rice Mill.
