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| 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
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