Georgetown: A Canada-based Guyanese doctor has returned home to give support to various departments and clinics at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Dr Peter Akai is on a 10-day visit to Guyana and is assisting various departments within the corporation. The doctor, who specialises in infection and skin care, said he will be touring different clinics within the next few days.
The medical practitioner plans to make recommendations to the GPHC on the purchasing of drugs and medical equipment to improve cost-effectiveness. He told this newspaper on Monday that, during his stint, he would be working with local practitioners to see how best to improve the delivery of health care. He also plans to share his experience as a medical practitioner in Canada with the many doctors attached to the various units.
According to him, while his stay is short and he will not be able to do all that he would like to, he hopes to give of his best. The doctor has already held lectures at the GPHC with nurses and doctors and intends to do another session with another batch of health practitioners.
Overseas training
Lauding the work being done at the GPHC, Dr Akai said the mixture of doctors within the corporation is good, as this is necessary for any medical institution that wants to provide top-quality medical service to a population. He also praised the government for exposing local doctors to overseas training, which will also help to boost medical care at the hospital.
According to him, while there has been some criticism about the long waiting hours at the hospital, one must consider that it is the largest facility in the country to which health clinics and other small hospitals refer patients.
Dr Akai plans to visit Guyana on an annual basis, to provide support to the GPHC and other medical institutions in the future.
The GPHC has had the benefit of the experience and knowledge of many overseas-based Guyanese doctors who came on short stints, to assist in improving the various units and provide extra training for staff. Recently, a 21-member team of medical specialists from the George Washington University Hospital in the United States was in Guyana for a seven-day outreach that included complex surgeries and training.
The team conducted continuing screening, with at least 20 surgeries of the most complicated cases in urology, and approximately 40 general surgeries. The team consisted of urologists, anaesthesiologists, general surgeons, and nurses.
The Health Ministry has launched an initiative to forge new strategic partnerships with the international community to boost Guyana’s health services. Under Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran’s stewardship, similar outreaches have been done with Calgary University, among others.
You must be logged in to post a comment.