President receives Vital360 medical device from US-based Guyanese doctor
Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Mercy Catholic Medical Center at Mercy Fitzgerald Campus in Pennsylvania, USA, Dr Deon Vigilance on Tuesday presented President Irfaan Ali with a Vital360 multipurpose medical device.
The hand-held Vital360 has the capability to check six different vitals, including blood pressure, blood glucose and blood oxygen, which can then be sent to any doctor or family member. The information can also be logged to electronic medical records.
President Irfaan Ali receiving the device from Dr Deon Vigilance. Also in photo is Georgetown Public Hospital Cardiologist, Dr Mahendra Carpen
Dr Vigilance told the President that the device was revolutionary in the medical field and he was involved in the early stages of its development. He said too that after eight years of development, the product was in its final stage of approval, which is US Food and Drug Administration certification.
The company is expected to be granted the necessary approval within the second quarter of 2021.
President Ali expressed appreciation for the gift and was treated to a mini-demonstration, following the presentation, at State House.
“If you are at home and you check your blood pressure and it is at 180/100, you know what it is, but also immediately once you know, your doctor will also know,” Dr Vigilance said.
He also told the President that the device could be used on a large scale once it passed the requisite certification tests.
“You can go to a village as well and check the health of the entire community and keep a medical record of that, so you know where your baseline is and you can store that information and over the years you can see how they are doing,” a statement from the President’s Press Unit quoted Dr Vigilance as saying.
He noted that the gift to the President is reflective of the fact that the Head of State could lead the charge in saying “I am concerned about my health”.
