The Hindu : Front Page : Medicare brings Guyana closer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 18, 2005

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Front Page

Medicare brings Guyana closer

M. Dinesh Varma

HAPPY LOT: These Guyanese children who underwent heart surgery in a Chennai hospital can now lead a normal life.

CHENNAI: Culturally, India and Guyana have been close despite the 15,000-odd km between them with the first-generation Indians, who migrated to work in plantations in the South American nation, comprising nearly half its 7 lakh population.

But now an emotional bonding is bringing the countries closer: Guyanese children with congenital heart conditions are finding saviour-surgeons in Chennai.

The first batch with abnormal hearts and narrowed valves has successfully undergone cardiac correction at Frontier Lifeline Hospital. At least 300 more children are waiting to get a better quality of life. The next batch is likely to be brought here February 2006.

The patients arrived in the city on September 24 accompanied by Varshnie Jagdeo, the First Lady of Guyana. The youngest to be operated on was four-year-old Romel Hassan. Casey Clifton (5), Premdai Harrichand (12) and Anjani Pritipaul (13), are from poor families.

According to Ms. Jagdeo, patron of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child and Kids First Charity, Guyana looked to Trinidad and Canada for tertiary care. She, along with Jeanette Singh, president of the Canada-based charity, Three River Foundation raised nearly U.S. $12,000.

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