–local authorities acknowledge work of outgoing Chinese Medical Brigade, welcomes new team
THE Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), on Monday evening, hosted a farewell ceremony in honour of the outgoing 20th Chinese Medical Brigade, and to welcome the 21st batch of medical specialists.
The ceremony, according to information from GPHC, highlighted the ongoing partnership between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the People’s Republic of China in strengthening healthcare services in Guyana.
This partnership began in the early 1990s, when the first Chinese Medical Brigade supported Guyana by not only providing medical supplies but also carrying out critical outreaches across the country.
Since then, several brigades have served in Guyana, contributing to various areas at GPHC, Linden Public Hospital, and other public healthcare facilities nationwide.
In attendance were the Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo; Robbie Rambarran, Chief Executive Officer of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation; members of the Board of Directors of GPHC; senior hospital officials; and hospital personnel with whom the team worked during their one year at GPHC & Linden Public Hospital.
Dr. Mahadeo recalled that one of the earliest health outreaches in the hinterland in the 90s was led by the Chinese Brigade.
He further said: “GPHC is the leading health institution in Guyana and one of the leading institutions in the Caribbean as well. This means that we are doing good things, raising our standards, that we are taking it to where it was never before, and I would say our Chinese doctors are contributing greatly to this.”
Rambarran, in his remarks, shared similar sentiments, highlighting the camaraderie built over the years.
“Every year, the team of doctors that come from the Brigade are more and more becoming Guyanese and participating in not only medical services but also staff engagement activities at the hospital, and I can tell you for this batch it was no different. It was even better. On behalf of myself and the hospital, I want to thank you for your stellar service to our healthcare community, and thanks to your family for sharing you with us,” he said.
Rambarran further reflected on the early years of collaboration, when Guyana had limited resources and depended heavily on the Brigade and the Chinese Embassy for vital medical equipment and instruments.
Today, the partnership continues to flourish, with recent donations such as US$50,000 worth of advanced ophthalmology equipment and a 4K Fluorescence Laparoscopy Surgical System, which improves precision in minimally invasive surgeries at the institution.
This growth in co-operation was further solidified with the launch of the International Medical Training Partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Jiangsu Commission of Health.
Through this programme, seven doctors, five from GPHC and two from the West Demerara Regional Hospital, are in China undergoing training through the China-Guyana Specialist (Jiangsu) Training Programme, which aims to enhance their clinical skills while giving them exposure to advanced technologies.
“This would be the third batch that has really been pushing local capacity building. Continuous training and knowledge-sharing have been instrumental as we work towards achieving the world-class healthcare system mandated by His Excellency, President Irfan Ali,” Rambarran said.
The ceremony concluded with the GPHC team expressing gratitude to the 20th Chinese Medical Brigade for its dedicated service, and warmly welcoming the 21st team. Tokens of appreciation were exchanged as both sides reflected on the strong friendship and shared commitment.
