In 1994, I found out that a group of individuals from among the Guyanese-American community were involved in providing medical services and supplies to people in rural areas in Guyana. Over the years, the Guyanese people, particularly the poor and those living in the rural districts, have experienced deteriorating health services, a condition that came about through the gross mismanagement by the previous government. With no funding available for any comprehensive health education and sanitation program it is impossible for the current government to provide the much-needed services which would accord the mass of people the benefits of good health. It is heart-warn;ing to know that there are some Guyanese abroad, who address this very crucial situation and who are actively providing some form of relief to an already burdened nation.
Because of high transportation costs, it is virtually impossible for the average person to gain any benefit from an already depressed health facility in the city. The cost of traveling leaves many of the ill with a choice of foregoing one week's food rations or paying for a trip to the city hospital. The lack of adequate funds places the citizens beyond the reach of basic medical attention. With families to feed, many who are sick remain so. With no access to medical services and with no medication available, their condition is further compounded by the lack of proper sanitation in the country. There is an increase in skin diseases, such as chiga etc.. With a limited health education program in place and no pre-natal care facilities, children are being born with defective organs. There is a rise in arthritic and pulmonary diseases and the AIDS virus has hit hard.
Since 1992, a group of young doctors and concerned individuals of the GuyaneseAmerican community embarked on a mercy mission, traveling to Guyana every year, at their own expenses and providing clinic services to some of the country districts. They formed the Guyana Watch Orrganization. This group raised funds and purchased medical supplies which was distributed in some rural areas. Government health agencies also benefited from these fund-raising efforts. Medical experts teamed up with local doctors to facilitate proper consultations and prescribing of appropriate drugs. In a conversation with Dr. Tara Singh, President of the Guyana Watch Inc. I was informed of the "grave situation in Guyana" and he expressed the hope that members of the GuyaneseAmerican community would rally and respond positively by giving whatever they could afford to alleviate the sufferings of the Guyanese people.
Funds were raised to cover the costs of transporting children and young people with serious terminal conditions to Mt. Hope Hospital in Trinidad where preliminary examinations are performed. In some cases immediate medical treatment was required which meant sending the patient to a hospital in the USA. One such case was little Muni Ram, who suffered from a life threatening defective heart condition. Muni Ram was brought to the USA and underwent successful surgery and is back in Guyana today, living a normal life . Guyana Watch covered all the traveling expenses and accommodation for Muni Ram and his mother, and medical expenses incurred. Subsequently, young eighteen year Michelle Singh who had a heart and lung problem, traveled to New York for treatment. The Organization had supervised her medical treatment here in the USA but unfortunately her condition was already far gone and she died. Her funeral expenses were paid by Guyana Watch. If Michelle had received medical attention earlier she would have been alive today. The Rotary Club of Guyana collaborated with Guyana Watch and provided medical services to a nine month old baby, Nandram, who had a palatial nasal defect. The operation was successfully done at Mt. Hope Hospital. In another case, Vinod Ramkishore of No 66 Village was taken to Trinidad, but his condition was far gone and medical help was impossible. He returned to Guyana. There are many serious cases who need immediate medical help but funds are needed to provide the necessary medical treatment. Already plans are in place to take another medical team to Guyana this summer.
Those of us who have migrated here are lucky, in that, we are placed in a more privileged position with access to medical facilities and good health education programs. Our quality of life here is much better compared to the standards many of us existed under "back home". Many of our people spend much of their time at a night-club or at a party. Some of us donate a lot of money to building churches and temples in New York in an effort "to bribe God" and appease our niggling thoughts that by doing so we are doing "something good". Many of us are caught up in petty community politics, with a plethora of community, social, cultural and religious organizations, each one trying to outdo the other with "Sip and Chat" events, beauty pageants and meaningless socials which seem like parasitic pastimes for an otherwise financially successful community. Considering the size of the Guyanese population now living in the USA it seems a shame that enough people are not rallying to the call of "HELP" from our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Guyana. Hopefully, we will respond in larger numbers to a worthy cause. Each time we enter McDonald's or a bar in New York City, we might remember that there are many in Guyana who need our help. We talk much of Guyana, we talk much of the Caribbean community but ARE WE OUR BROTHERS KEEPERS? Guyana Watch should be complimented for taking on such challenges. For more information on how you could help call (718) 848 - 7113. [telephone number is in NY, USA]