Roraima Airways offers return flight to ailing 2-year-old
… as Copa collaborates with Mercy Hospital for Christmas festivities
Says after a mother pleaded for public assistance to take her two-year-old son to Cuba to receive medical treatment for a rare eye cancer, Roraima Airways responded by donating the air tickets. The tickets were handed over to Cassandra Persaud at Captain Gerry Gouveia’s office on Friday.
Director Roraima Airways, Gerry Gouveia with Omkar Persaud and his mother, Cassandra Persaud
Omkar Persaud was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in the right eye and as such, needs to undergo urgent surgery to prevent him from going blind. His left eye has already been removed as a result of the same disease. However, the treatment will cost close to $4 million of which the government pumped in a million. The family raised another $1 million and the public would have responded to the call and donated another $2 million.
However, on making the donation to the mother and son, Director of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia said he was made aware of the situation only recently and he was pleased to contribute to the recovery and improvement of the child’s eyesight and overall good health.
“It is amazing to know how many Guyanese reached out to help in whatever way they could,” he stated. He added that the offer to Persaud and her son is an extension of Roraima’s continued commitment to the medical evacuation service operated by his company.
Further, Gouveia expressed best wishes for successful treatment and recovery to the child on behalf of his family and company. The thankful mother accepted the tickets and expressed her appreciation to the company while noting that she was pleased with the public’s response and generous assistance towards her son.
Roraima Airways since its establishment in 1992 has led the way in medical evacuation service, operating a 24-hour Air Ambulance Evacuation Service in Guyana, providing a domestic and regional reliable response evacuation service.
The child along with his mother is expected to depart for the Republic of Cuba shortly. Meanwhile, Copa Airlines is collaborating with the St Joseph Mercy Hospital for a number of festivities the medical institution has planned this Christmas.
The airline on Friday handed over a cheque to the hospital in support of several of these events. The funds are intended to support a children’s party and the annual Christmas tree light-up and carol singing event. The children of St Ann’s and St John’s Bosco orphanages will be guests of honour at the lighting of the Christmas tree. Copa and St Joseph Mercy Hospital have been in talks over the past several months, exploring opportunities for collaborating and building partnership. Copa’s Regional Sales Director, Diego Bermudez Parra, during a recent visit to Guyana, also met with Mercy Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Helen Browman and Associate Administrator Deborrah Ramsay.
Meanwhile, in outlining the activities planned for the festive season, Ramsay said this year’s Christmas tree light-up and carol singing event promises to be even bigger than last year’s. She said planning has been moving along extremely well and a record number of visitors are expected. Regarding the children’s party, she said each child will be receiving a gift bag “with lots of goodies” and with the support from Copa, they will be extremely delighted.
The children’s party is scheduled for December 8 and the carol singing and Christmas tree light-up event will take place on December 9 in the parking lot of the hospital.
The collaboration with Mercy Hospital is the latest in a series of initiatives being undertaken by Copa in Guyana, geared towards strengthening ties and forging partnerships.
