Vishnu Mandir’s Global Care Outreach Program launches Doobay Renal Centre in Guyana

Patient recieving treatment

Vishnu Mandir’s Global Care Outreach Program (VMGCOP) a not for-profit organization is pleased to announce that it has launched the Doobay Renal Centre a Dialysis Clinic at Lot 9 Annandale, East Coast Demerara, Guyana, on Thursday Sept 15 2011.

Dr Budhendra Doobay, Chairman of Vishnu Mandir and a torch bearer of this humanitarian project was at the inauguration. He among many others reminded the audience that everyone of us has as part of our spiritual obligation to give back to humanity while encouraging others to follow suit. Also present at the opening were David Devine, Canadian Ambassador to Guyana, and several of the numerous sponsors, who made the facility a reality.

Shirley Brigmohan was the first patient to receive treatment and medication while William Harper was the second.

According to Guyana’s Stabroek News, a local newspaper, Mr. Harper “thought he was at death’s door. He had to endure the pain and discomfort of being without dialysis because he simply could not afford it. He says he often thought that death was near and that there seemed to be no way out until by word-of-mouth he heard of the Doobay Renal Centre, which he now calls a “heaven sent.” Harper was Patient recieving treatment evaluated by a doctor at the centre and he will be given all the treatment he needs free of charge, in keeping with the goal of the not-for-profit organization, which aims to make affordable renal care available to Guyanese within any financial bracket.

As part of its cost control VMGCOP sought the assistance of many and one such volunteer was Mc Master University Professor of Nephrology Euan Carlisle who was over seeing the launch and care of the first patients.

Another was Nurse Louisa McKenzie a Jamaican–Canadian who recently retired and who said that she too chose Guyana because it was her own role in giving back to society. She will be in Guyana for one month and is currently training fourteen nurses, ten of whom were sent by the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). She added she is also willing to return to Guyana should the centre require her services. 

Director of the Centre, Vickram Oditt said that the centre would be working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the GPHC to meet the needs of patients and as part of the protocol of collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the centre has already donated three dialysis machines to the GPHC and was providing training to its nurses on the use of the machines. 

Dr. Surendra Persaud, a prominent Guyanese surgeon, who is also on the Board of the Doobay Renal Centre, expressed pride at being associated with the centre and recalled that when the stakeholders initially put forward the concept of dialysis for Guyana, many persons thought it could not work. Proud that the initiative has now come off the ground, Dr. Persaud however reasoned that, though considerably reduced, cost could still challenge some persons in need of dialysis. He therefore called on other civic minded persons to consider giving generously to the fund from which those less fortunate could benefit.

Canadian High Commissioner, His Excellency David Devine said that on behalf of Canada which has played a great role in helping Guyana realize its dream of an affordable dialysis centre to meet the needs of the Guyanese people applauded the stakeholders and expressed admiration for their dedication displayed in making the initiative a success. 

Retired Major General Joe Singh, who is Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Kidney foundation launched last November, also had words of congratulations for the Doobay Renal Centre.

The cost of the project at the time of the inauguration amounted to $125,000.00 US

VMGCOP wishes to thank everyone for their donations, especially Dr. Doobay and his family for donating the premises that houses the Renal Centre.

VMGCOP and The Doobay Renal Centre is also very grateful to everyone who has and continue to support our fund raising events in Canada and Guyana.

Thanks also to everyone who offered words of praise and wishes for continued success.

Finally we again remind all that the journey has just began and the road to success would be a lot easier to navigate with more of the same and that all donations in Canada and Guyana are tax deductable in the respective countries.

Sent in to Caribbean Xpress by Kris Misir

Relatives of injured Amerindian claim policeman was insulting

Forty-eight year-old Trevor Melville, of Port Kaituma, North West Region, who was hit by a truck on Friendship Public Road, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday September 18, remained in a critical condition.

He is a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and on life support. Melville suffered head injuries and a crushed left leg.

The accident happened around 10:30 hrs and he was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to Diamond Diagnostic Centre, also on East Bank Demerara, before being transferred to the GPH.

The father of four, between the ages of 6 and 12 years, had been in Georgetown to visit his sisters, Doreen James and Thelma Melville. Melville had just left the home of the latter at Friendship and was crossing the road, in an effort to get transportation to visit Thelma who lives at Land of Canaan, on East Bank Demerara, too, when he was injured.

One of his daughters, Jessica, who witnessed the mishap, related that the attitude of the driver of the vehicle, GMM 100, was most insensitive. She said he and a woman, who was sitting  in the cab next to him, became very abrasive and hurled insults at the hurt man.

Melville’s elder sister, Doreen, said it was unbelievable that the driver did not even attempt to render any assistance in getting her brother to the hospital. It was his sisters and other relatives who had to pick him up and hire a vehicle to take him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Ranks from Grove Police Station arrived on the scene and carried out investigations but, later in the evening, when relatives visited the station to be updated, they came in for another shock, they claimed.

They said the police rank from whom they sought to get information was loud and blatantly insulting. “In fact he stopped just short of telling us that we were Amerindians, insignificant and had no right to ask any questions about the driver,” one of the victim’s sisters lamented.

Melville’s family recalled that, about five years ago, he had a horrific accident in the same neighbourhood and it was a miracle that he survived. On that occasion he remained unconscious and on life support in the ICU for several days, having suffered severe head injuries.

To this day, he still has a disfigured face and, another sister Elaine, was also struck by a vehicle near that same spot and remains paralysed on one side.

“We expected the police to do their job and conduct proper investigations and take the matter to court. However, it seems that both cases were  thrown out of the window. Our sister is paralysed. Our brother is on life support for the second time and all the drivers are walking free. Where is the justice?” where

Africanised bees kill Eccles man

Pandemonium hit the village of Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in the afternoon on Monday September 19 after a swarm of Africanised (killer) Bees launched an attack on residents in the area, resulting in the death of one.

Sheikh Imran Hassan, 48, succumbed at the Balwant Singh Hospital, East Street, Georgetown, late afternoon. He had been stung numerous times about his body while at his residence.

At the hospital, the Hassan family was still trying to come to grips with what transpired, while other residents who were stung needed medical attention.

Arshaad Hassan, the man’s eldest son, said that he has been living at Lot 238 Anaida Avenue, Eccles, for his entire life and never saw any of the Africanised Bees around his home prior to this incident.

He explained that his father, a mechanic by occupation, and other family members were attacked by the bees around 13:30 hrs while he was at work.

Six other residents were stung moments after the bees began to attack and they received assistance and treatment from other persons in the neighbourhood.

One of Hassan’s relative stated that the hive of bees was situated in their neighbour’s house.

“The nest is in our neighbour ceiling; Tony Amres house, the GEB security people. The house lock up and they gone. We sought assistance when this thing was happening from; we sought the NDC, police station, agriculture, fire station, all over and no one helped”, said the relative.

Fizal Shawl, the victim’s brother-inlaw, who was at the scene at the time of the incident stated that Hassan and another brother were repairing a car on his (Shawl’s) bridge when a swarm of bees attacked the two.

The victim’s brother managed to jump in a drum of water while the deceased put a bucket on his head but since the bees were too numerous he fell and was covered in black (bees). The victim’s sons, his brother and other close relatives made numerous efforts to save his life but all were futile.

According to his brother, from the time the bees attacked Hassan, contacts were made to many government places for help to eradicate the bees but to no avail.

Calls were also made to West Ruimveldt Fire Station but the response was “We gotta get permission”.

The NDC responded to the calls with “How much you’ll pay?”

While the deceased was being attacked, frustrated relatives also made contact with the Ministry of Agriculture but that department was only able to give the family different phone numbers to contact the eradicator.

At the home of Hassan at 17:00hrs, there was chaos because the bees were still living in the ceiling of a house next door, at 239 Anaida Avenue.

At the time of the incident a woman  was said to be living in the house but immediately fled after she realized that the bees were inside the house.

According to Joan Hassan, the victim’s sister-in-law, she was stung in the head while trying to assist, while other neighbours locked their doors and were peeping through their windows to see the outcome since there wasn’t much anyone could do.

The victim’s sister-in-law explained that after her brother-in-law passed away, a bee catcher came to the scene.

“When he came and was directed to the house the bee catcher said there isn’t anything he can do now and demanded taxi fare from our family.”  Hassan leaves to mourn his three sons and wife, Sabetri.

According to a report the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) received a report from a resident of Lot 199 Anira Avenue, Eccles, at approximately 14:00 hrs. That report stated that a resident of Eccles was being attacked by a swarm of bees.

The GLDA states that it immediately contacted Mr. Carl Persaud, a private bee keeper/exterminator who responded to the scene at 14:30 hrs to investigate the report and take necessary action.

Singh arrived on the scene and found that the bees were in an occupied building. He then exterminated the bee colony and rescued two dogs.

“It is also believed that there are other colonies of bees within the area based upon the number of bees that were exterminated. The GLDA is advising that the bees are hostile and should be reported immediately to GLDA at 220-6557”, the release went on to say.

Meanwhile, the GLDA said that it regretted the loss of life and sympathised with the other persons who were stung in the process.