Order of Malta Embassy recognised for humanitarian work in Guyana

…to expand services across country

Having recently been recognised for its humanitarian work here, the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Guyana is now looking to take its services to more people across the country.

During the Spring pilgrimage to Lourdes in France last month, The Embassy of the Order of Malta in Guyana received international recognition, a release from the organisation stated. Additionally, a mass was held on May 4 to pray for the sick in Guyana.
Since 2017, the Embassy of the Order of Malta has been doing its part to support a range of issues here in the country including, but not limited to, migrant healthcare as well as educational support.
“Our focus is truly humanitarian, in assisting refugees and other displaced persons in most places in the world,” it stated.
In the area of healthcare, the medical mission has been supporting migrants and displaced persons by supplying critically needed healthcare services. This is done through St Joseph Mercy Hospital in Georgetown, as part of the Blessed Gerard Paediatric Mission.

Additionally, a medical doctor would visit Port Kaituma in Region One (Barima-Waini), to take care of the needs of residents of that community and contiguous areas, as well as the Venezuelan migrants. Apart from the range of healthcare services offered, vitamins are also distributed.
The Fund for Forgotten People – a British-American foundation – approved a grant for the first years of support in 2019/2020, and has now greenlighted a second one to allow for the continuation of this project in Port Kaituma.
Medical Outreaches comprising doctors and the St Joseph Mercy Hospital Mobile Clinic have been ongoing in three regions: Regions One, Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
Now, the Embassy disclosed that it will be expanded in the coming year to include Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
The Order of Malta in Guyana also collaborates with the St John Ambulance Brigade which is headed by its Chairman and Councillor, Vibart Parvattan. The St John’s Ambulance Brigade promotes the training and education in first aid to all age groups.
Meanwhile, in the education field, the Embassy, through private funding, has hired two special needs teachers. These special needs teachers are based in two locations – the special needs home for children at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, and Cristel’s Academy of Excellence, in La Parfait Harmonie, on the West Bank of Demerara.
A further sponsorship programme ensures that children who are resident in orphanages and who have outstanding academic results are awarded scholarships. Such students are recommended by their school principals.
Malteser is the worldwide relief agency of the Order of Malta for humanitarian aid.
Through Malteser, the Sovereign Order has been in the forefront globally in assisting Ukrainians at the Polish, Hungarian and Slovakian Borders. Funding accounts have been have set up in the Malteser Magazine for donations. As the war escalated in Ukraine, the Order of Malta responded by organising buses to transport families across the borders and assist them to get settled through its volunteer programmes in those countries.
Globally, in 2018, two million patients were treated in medical facilities through the support of the Order of Malta.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta, officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John, of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, commonly known as the Order of Malta, Malta Order or Knights of Malta. It is a Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of a military, chivalric and noble nature. It was founded by Blessed Gerard in 1048 in Jerusalem. The Order of Malta has ambassadors in over 112 countries across the world and is the oldest medical mission in the world.
The Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Guyana is headed by Ambassador Viscount Roland Donin de Rosiere KM.