The section was constructed in the Emergency Wing at a cost of G$5M and Cdn $40,000, realised through the initiative and humanitarian support of Plasticos Charities Foundation of Toronto, Canada and other overseas and local donors.

Health officials here made special mention, at the function, of the invaluable contribution of Plasticos Founder/Directors and their wives, Dr and Mrs Timothy Sproule and Mr Harry Harackh and Mrs Pamela Harackh.

At yesterday's ceremony, in the East Street lobby of the Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Unit, a plaque to mark the occasion was unveiled by former President of Guyana, Mrs Janet Jagan and Mrs Harackh.

Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who delivered the feature address, referred to the collective dedicated efforts, which led to the realisation as truly a "labour of love".
Hospital Administrator Dr.Rambarran (at left) about to shake hands with Founder/Director of Plasticos Charities Foundation, Dr Timothy Sproule at the ceremony.
Hospital Administrator Dr.Rambarran (at left) about to shake hands with Founder/Director of Plasticos Charities Foundation, Dr Timothy Sproule at the ceremony.
He said the achievement made the GPHC dream a reality and is a brilliant example of what non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Private Sector collaboration can achieve.

"Today we are opening up the Burns Centre which is a true collaboration between the Public Sector, NGOs and individuals," Ramsammy acknowledged.

He said the initiative is a model of development being pursued in the health sector today and he also commended past Guyana Consuls General in Toronto, Mr Danny Doobay and Mr Geoffrey Da Silva, Mr Desmond and Mrs Joan De Barros, Ms Judy Nighton, Nurse Gita Singh, Canada-based Dominican, Mr Sherman Delsol, who has been soliciting funds abroad, Ms Thelma Tappin of Guyana Pioneer Fund-Raising Group and more than 2,000 more Guyanese living in Canadan, who all contributed.

Ramsammy also recognised the work of staff at the institution and of Marjorie’s Enterprise which has the contract for cleaning the five specialist areas of GPHC.

The Minister said GPHC has been tested and proved to be rating very high in terms of its contribution to the nation and continues to strive, each day, towards the level of care provided.

Dr Sproule said the overwhelming positive attitude at GPHC to make the project succeed can result in tremendous economic cost benefit through a reduction of general suffering.

He commended the team of skilled and dedicated persons working in the unit and said the thing that really enthused him about the undertaking is the fact that Guyana has good medical training, too.

Sproule promised to send specialist nursing teams here regularly to ensure the GPHC runs a high-class facility and presented ‘A Book of Complete Burns Care 2002’ to the library.

Mr Harackh agreed the success was due to a partnership of technical skills and mobilisation effort and said Plasticos is working towards continuity of the scheme on which every bit of the monies collected would be spent.

Rambarran said GPHC will determine cases for admission to the new ward and, depending on their condition and response to treatment, when they could be returned to open wards in other sections of the complex.