During her medical outreaches in supporting Guyana’s efforts to make health care and social services accessible to all Guyanese, Medical Lecturer, Dr. Joan Liverpool, has been able to zero in on key social and health issues where much improvement is needed. The Guyanese born doctor, now residing in Georgia U.S.A, has been paying regular visits to Guyana for the past 12 years after being solicited by former Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, to assist in the rebuilding and restructuring of the nation’s health care system.
As part of her yearly visits, Liverpool, who specialises in Family Medicine and Medical Education, along with a team of medical practitioners representing the Deskan Institute and Training Medical Mission, have been reaching out to citizens of deprived communities to offer their services free of cost.
It is by means of their regular visits and interactions with the Ministries of Health and Education, Social Services organisations and the University of Guyana, an assessment was made, which identified diabetes and suicide as being Guyana’s major health and social concerns.
According to Medical Associate, Vivette Jones, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Certified Diabetes Educator, of an estimated 400 patients seen each day, one third is affected by the disease, while another one third has not been diagnosed.
“Just having diabetes, if you haven’t been diagnosed, it’s as if you have already had a heart attack,” the Diabetes Educator asserted.
She added that the disease is such a concern, since it lends itself to so many other diseases and illnesses, including blindness, loss of limbs and kidney problems. While these complications are deadly, according to Jones, they are preventable with education and proper care, which she stated is the primary aim of the Deskan Institute.
Concern was also raised about Guyana’s rising suicide rate. Dr. Liverpool noted that with Guyana carrying the highest suicide rate in the Caribbean, much can be said of the easy accessibility to poison that Guyanese market places provide. “It is troubling how easily poison can get into the hands of the most vulnerable,” she said
Having rendered their services to various Regions in Guyana, the Deskan Institute has made known its commitment to continue their outreach programmes, not only to address health issues but to include management of social issues on their agenda.
