Public health sector gets US$420,000 worth of equipment from China
GINA, GUYANA, Friday, September 23, 2016
The visiting Chinese delegation to Guyana led by Madam Cui Li, Vice Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China, today, handed over a substantial amount of medical equipment and supplies to Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings and Vice Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China exchange the signed certificates that covered the gifts that had been handed over
Witnessing the handing over were Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency Zhang Limin; Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) Chief Executive Officer, Michael Khan, Chairman of the GPHC’s Board of Directors, Dr. Carl Max Hanoman, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health, Trevor Thomas and doctors of the twelfth batch of the Chinese Medical Brigade.
Items include laparoscopic instruments and equipment and eye testing and eye care equipment and materials. The equipment and supplies will be used at the Linden Hospital Complex Laparoscopic Centre and the GPHC eye clinic. The medical supplies and equipment are valued US$ 420,000.
During the formal hand-over ceremony, the Vice Minister said that she hopes to have the current medical brigade contribute to mental health care services to boost the efficiency of the services delivered in that area.
Minister Cummings in expressing her thanks said, “I am very confident as we move towards the future that both countries will continue to build on the unshakable foundation and have a friendship that has been carefully cultivated and nurtured through the years.”
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings and Vice Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China sign a certificate which takes into consideration the gifts that have been contributed to Guyana
Since the first medical brigade came to Guyana in 1993, the medical practitioners had continually contributed to the improvement of medical health care across the country to where they were dispatched. The two instrumental contributions were the commissioning of the Laparoscopic Center at Linden and their work in the Ophthalmology Centre (eye clinic) at the GPHC.
The Laparoscopic Centre at the Linden Hospital Complex was commissioned in October 2014.
After the brief hand-over ceremony, the Vice Minister of the People’s Republic of China along with the Minister within the Ministry of Public Health toured the new wing of the multi-million dollar maternity ward which is expected to be commissioned before the end of the year.
The public health sector has been a significant beneficiary of medical supplies and services in the form of gifts from the Chinese Government.