The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) on Monday donated $5 million to the Public Health Ministry toward Guyana’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
From left: General Manager, Shameena Haniff-Najab; Treasurer, Raza Ali; Director of Education and Dawah, Moeenul Hack; Deputy President, Goolzar Namdar; Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony; Nazar Mohamed and Azurdeen Mohamed, CIOG donors
The donation was handed over by the Director of Education at the CIOG, Moeenul Hack, to Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony. In making the donation, Hack noted that the organisation is impressed at the proactive approach by Government in tackling the pandemic. He noted that it is based on this, the donation was made.
He added that the CIOG has been part and parcel of the fight against the virus from the onset and would have donated more than 6000 food hampers to vulnerable families in Essequibo, Demerara, Berbice and Linden.
In the coming weeks, he noted, another 1500 hampers will be distributed in the hinterland area through a collaborated effort between the CIOG and the Government of Guyana.
“We do not have the capacity to take the hampers to the interior hence we are teaming up with the Government to ensure those in need get the necessary support.”
In addition, Hack stated that more than 3000 face masks were distributed to the Georgetown Public Hospital while a total of 250 medical ventilators were donated to the GPHC and two other medical facilities in Georgetown.
“We have also donated clothing and footwear to 1500 families,” Hack noted.
However, in the coming weeks, the organisation is expecting some 500,000 masks from a donor in the Middle East. Some of the people who have made tangible donations towards the initiative include Mohamed’s Enterprises, Roy’s Chicken, Bacchus Drug Store and a few international partners in the US and Canada.
Meanwhile, Dr Anthony thanked the CIOG for the timely donation and commended it for the work they have been doing. He noted that it is evident that the pandemic has grappled the entire world while stating that Guyana has its own peculiar challenges.
However, one such challenges that could have been corrected immediately was the ramping up the medial response by conducting more testing on a daily basis.
Initially, he added, the test was done only to those who would have shown signs of the virus but now it’s also being done to those who are asymptomatic.
He noted too that they are making sure that the various medical facilities throughout Guyana are equipped to deal with patients as the cases continue to increase. Presently, he noted, the ICU at the GPHC has only two ventilators but an additional 29 are expected to arrive soon.
“We are making sure that all systems are in place to effectively respond to the pandemic and with your donation, is very significant because with this money one of the things that come to mind that we can use it for is to expand out immediate needs in terms of personal protection and equipment that we need,” Dr Anthony stated.
He also commended the religious body in securing 500,000 face masks and offered to expedite the clearance as soon as they arrive in Guyana. The Minister reiterated that one of the main challenges the Government is faced with is to get the populace to comply with the COVID-19 measures and as such, urged the citizenry to adhere to them.
