Scores of Berbicians benefit from Chinese medical outreach

– residents urged to eat healthy to prevent hypertension, diabetes

Scores of residents of New Amsterdam and surrounding communities over the last weekend benefitted from a medical outreach hosted by the Chinese medical team and Falls. The activity was held in collaboration with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association at Banks DIH tarmac, Main and New Streets, New Amsterdam.
At the outreach, Nephrologist Dr Shen Jiansong urged residents to consume healthy foods since it can prevent hypertension and diabetes.
Dr Jiansong added that there is a need for health education and more doctors to provide information on healthy living styles in Guyana.
“We try to see as many persons as possible since many of them need more medication and more treatment. Resources were limited but I think we tried our best to take care of the patients” Dr Jiansong noted.
Administrative Manager of China Zhonghao Inc, Sara Huang explained that the team comprised of 12 doctors. Among them were doctors specialised in Orthopaedics, gynaecology, plastic surgery and traditional Chinese medicine.
“It is our intention to be of service to the people of New Amsterdam. This is our first medical outreach programme that we have collaborated with our Chinese doctors. We even provide services to various communities. Actually, it is within a company’s social responsibility programme that we will continue doing the same throughout Guyana in the future,” Huang said.
Further, she added that similar outreaches were held at Kwakwani and at Land of Canaan on the East Bank of Demerara.
She noted that it is evident that most of the patients seen do not have convenient access to medical services.
Meanwhile, Senior Vice President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association, Ryan Alexander explain that the outreach is as a result of a visit by the Chinese Ambassador to Berbice in February.
“During his visit, they were concerned about medical facilities in Berbice and one of the sentiments expressed by a member of the Chamber is that we need to have resident doctors from China in Berbice. This will change the image of Berbice and also how they feel about Chinese and their involvement in medicine.”
Alexander, who is also the regional representative for the Chinese Association, said that the outreach would have been used to assess the medical needs in the ancient county. While they cannot provide a resident doctor as soon as they want to, they are looking to do so in 2020 if the relevant authorities give the green light.