The Georgetown Public Hospital is seeking expert help ahead of plans to open two containers containing the moth-balled caesium units. But Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Khan yesterday backed up remarks by Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy that the units, stored for two years at the hospital, are not leaking any radioactive material.

Khan said the administration had agreed to seek the assistance of an expert when they decide to open the container. In this direction, contact has already been made with the US company from which the units were purchased asking them to send an expert. The hospital is waiting for a reply but in the meantime is in contact with certain other individuals.

It is expected that in the next two weeks they would know who would be assisting them in opening the container.

Stabroek News contacted Khan after the PNCR at its last press conference had raised concerns about the units based on a report submitted to the hospital’s administration by a physicist.

The party had said that the physicist in her report had warned of the constant exposure of visiting members of the public and staff members of the hospital to harmful radiation. The report, the party said, highlighted the lack of information and safety gear and associated equipment that would ensure safe use of the equipment by the hospital staff.

Yesterday, Khan told this newspaper that there was no leakage and the units were stored in a safe and relatively remote location.

When Dr Ramsammy was questioned about the physicist’s report on Monday he had said that it was because both radioactive units were in one of the two containers so “obviously... they would give you more radiation.”

He had said the physicist had no previous experience. Khan had more to add to this yesterday saying the young woman did not have the requisite qualification to pronounce on these matters.

He said that the woman, who was and is still an employee with the hospital, has a first degree in physics from the University of Guyana.

He added that she is employed with the radiotherapy department of the hospital and that the investigation report was just part of her many duties.

He said the statement in the report that components were missing and the manual was not found, was all an error on her part and also on the administration’s part. They were reportedly looking for these items in one box. Checks later made found that everything was intact.

Khan said that it was also later confirmed that the units were not leaking and were safe.

The units were bought some four years ago with the assistance of US$20,000 from the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and have yet to be put to use.

The units are to be used to treat cancer of the cervix. A row has developed between the CIOG Medical Advisor Dr M.Y. Bacchus and Ramsammy over the delays.