Top-class cardiac care

OUR heart is one of the most important organs as it is responsible for pumping blood filled with oxygen and nutrients around the body, including to cells and tissues.

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death with an estimated 17.9 million people dying because of CVDs in 2019, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). And of these deaths, 85 per cent was due to heart attack and stroke.

These statistics are frightening and would force anyone to reevaluate how they take care of their heart.

Unfortunately, three quarters of these deaths take place in low and middle income countries like Guyana. In almost half of the global deaths, poor health choices, such as bad eating habits and lack of exercise, have been blamed.

Guyana has not been spared. Given our small population, our statistics are scary.

In April 2023, the Global Heart Journal published research undertaken by the Guyana Programme to Advance Cardiac Care (GPACC), citing that this country has one of the highest rates of cardiovascular mortality in South America with 291.9 deaths for every 100,000 people, which is 54 per cent higher than the global average.

The present government is on a mission to bring Guyana up-to-date with the times and into the modern era.

The healthcare system is one of the priority areas and so far, hospitals have been upgraded, modern pieces of equipment procured, and widespread training of health professionals locally and abroad has begun.

Given the country’s issues with treating heart-related issues, it was refreshing when it was announced earlier this week that an Adult Cardiac Surgery Department was opened at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Unfortunately, at least four patients are identified weekly at that hospital for open-heart surgeries. The opening of this department is not only commendable but timely as the backlog of patients awaiting the heart surgery can now be reduced.

This department paves the way for subsided cost for the poor, who otherwise, will be forced to pay hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars, to access the lifesaving surgeries at a local private hospital or abroad.

The opening of this department is evidence of the government’s commitment to not only improve cardiovascular care among adults, but to reduce costs for patients and their relatives. Also, it will augment the GPHC’s current clinical and interventional arms of the cardiovascular services that are being offered there.

Coronary artery bypass surgeries and heart valve replacements and repairs are complex open-heart procedures. Luckily, Guyana has Dr. Pradeep Ramkoomar, who is heading the new department.

The heart surgeon recently returned home after completing a three-year fellowship training in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, India.

Patients will now be looked after by this expert, who is now the only adult open-heart surgeon in Guyana.

Given Guyana’s statistics, more doctors like him are needed and citizens can be assured that more health care professionals will be exposed to similar training, not only in this field but others that are adversely affected by inadequate expertise.

It is impressive to note that Dr. Ramkoomar’s training in India included beating heart surgery and conventional on-pump bypass with exposure to robotics and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

While the establishment of this department gives some comfort, Guyana still has a long way to go if it wants to reverse those frightening statistics.

Cardiac care begins with the individual. We all have a responsibility to ensure that we address behavioural risk factors such as unhealthy diet, obesity, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol and tobacco in order to keep our hearts healthy. Utilising every available green space to exercise and eating fresh fruits and vegetables must also be a priority. Guyana is well on its way to creating a modern, top-class health care system. The Adult Cardiac Surgery Department has moved up one step closer to that goal.