SIXTEEN Chinese medical doctors have arrived in Guyana to continue a programme started 23 years ago.The doctors were welcomed last evening at a function to also celebrate the 11th Chinese Medical Brigade which treated 41,000 Guyanese. The new batch of doctors will be dispatched to the Georgetown Public Hospital and the Linden Hospital Complex.
President David Granger observes as First Lady Sandra Granger greets the Head of the Chinese Medical Brigade, Dr Wang Yongxiang
At the Chinese Embassy reception, President David Granger applauded the contributions made by the People’s Republic of China particularly in the area of health.
“The relationship between our two republics has flourished on many fronts since formal diplomatic relations were established on 27th June 1972. Cooperation in the health sector has been a distinguishing feature of human relations which emphasise the formal engagement between our two republics and, most particularly, the personal and everyday friendship between our two peoples,” the President said.
He added that the continued partnership in the field of health has fostered the development of a healthy population and as a result has contributed to the wealth of the nation.
“The Medical Team, in the ensuing years made a significant contribution to the Guyanese health sector. The teams have combined the efforts and expertise of more than 160 Chinese medical experts. They have specialised in the fields of acupuncture, anaesthetics, gynaecology, nephrology, oncology, ophthalmology, pathology, radiology, urology, obstetrics, paediatrics, general surgery, plastic surgery and osteopathy,” President Granger told those present.
“Thousands of our Guyanese have benefited from the expertise of these specialists and from the equipment which was donated under the programme. Guyanese are extremely grateful for the work and contributions of the Chinese Medical Team,” he added.
In offering his gratitude on behalf of the people of Guyana, President Granger said his country values its relations with China and looks forward to expanding and deepening the ties of cooperation.
The President delivered the feature address in the presence of China’s Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin and his wife Liu Yue; Head of the Medical Brigade, Dr. Wang Yongxiang; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Finance Minister Winston Jordan, among other dignitaries.
The Head of the Chinese Medical Brigade said he has been touched by the hospitality of the people of Guyana. “I was deeply touched first time when I saw the politeness and patience on the face of patients waiting at the clinic,” Yongxiang said as he reflected on his first outreach.
In June 2014, Yongxiang arrived in Guyana with the 11th Chinese Medical Brigade to complement the doctors here. According to him, the Public Health Ministry, Georgetown Public Hospital and the Linden Hospital Complex have been nothing but helpful.
However, he underscored the need for more medical facilities. “In the meantime, we truly feel the people of Guyana need more medical facilities and more advanced medical service.”
Nevertheless, he said the 11th Chinese Medical Brigade was more than grateful to treat the 41,000 patients it attended to during the two-year stint..
“Under the leadership of the Chinese embassy in Guyana, our medical team has carried out a lot of work. The 11th Chinese Medical Team has treated 41,000 patients, giving emergency treatment to 3000 patients who were critically ill and performed 6000 surgeries,” he explained.
He said now that the 12th batch has arrived, he anticipates that more medical outreaches will be conducted.
The first Chinese Medical Brigade arrived in Guyana in 1993 following the establishment of a Medical Cooperation Agreement between the Governments of the Republics of Guyana and China on May 26, 1993.
