Hailed as a key figure in the fight to reduce the prevalence of malaria in Guyana, veteran malariologist Dr Lloyd Validum passed away on Saturday.
An announcement of his death posted on social media by one of his sons, Dr Damian Validum said he died at age of 61 at his residence in Kitty, Georgetown.
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony while expressing condolences to Validum’s family said his contribution to the health sector has been valuable.
He noted that during Validum’s career which began in 1986 at the Ministry of Health, he was instrumental in the implementing of many programmes that aim at reducing the prevalence of malaria.
He added that Validum also contributed to the Ministry’s response to COVID-19 as he offered insightful advice on the disease’s transmission.
“He has always had pertinent questions and a sharp mind when looking at epidemiology and points you to looking at different angles. So we have benefited from his advice when it comes to disease transmission… we have lost a valuable colleague,” Anthony lamented.
In a letter to this newspaper, Dr Keith Carter said Validum was one of the first persons who promoted the use of impregnated mosquito nets and rapid diagnostic tests for the prevention and detection of malaria among the gold mining population and others at risk of the disease. He said that the efforts of Validum will not be in vain.
The late doctor worked as head of the National Malaria Control Programme at the Ministry of Health from 1993-1995 before entering into private practice. From 1996, he worked as a consultant in Malariology and Tropical Diseases at Woodlands Hospital.
He was also a lecture in Parasitology and Toxicology at University of Guyana from 1993-2015.
