Calgary University cardiology team arrives on Sunday - to assist in setting up children’s clinic

As the Ministry of Health continues its strategic partnerships with international health institutions, a team of cardiologists, headed by Professor, Debra Isaacs, Director of Cardiac transplant of the Calgary University is scheduled to arrive in Guyana on March 16, according to Minster of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran.

The five-member team’s focus will be on paediatric cardiac surgeries, and will be offering the capacity needed to conduct these surgeries locally. They will be looking at means of upgrading cardiac interventions, primarily in babies.

This group has over the past two years worked with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to establish the Guyana Paediatric Cardiology Steering Committee (GPCSC) which is solely responsible for the vetting of cardiac patients for further intervention.

Key members from the committee such as Dr. Frank Dicke, Paediatric Cardiologist, Alberta Children’s hospital and Dr. Isaacs, will be working to establish a Cardiac Programme in Guyana that will allow these surgeries to be conducted locally.

The committee has been formed to oversee the development and ongoing management of accessible and modern paediatric cardiology at the GPHC, for the benefit of Guyanese children.

The clinic will include focus on education of paediatricians and nurses, provision of a database/ electronic medical records and evidence based plans for monitoring and follow- up for paediatric patients with heart diseases.

Minister Ramsaran noted that this clinic should be up and running later in the year.

Earlier in the year another team from the said University was in Guyana, and conducted a series of CMEs on Chronic Kidney Disease/Transplant Services in Guyana. They also met with government officials on that aspect of medical health.

Guyana has thus far benefited tremendously from strategic partnerships, not only from the Calgary University, but several such universities and organisations.