Sunday October 28, 2012
Kaieteur News
Page 15
Overseas-based group seeks to help reduce kidney failure with outreach mission
I
ndicating that he has several ambitious plans on the horizon to further aid the advancement of health and education in Guyana, USbased business tycoon, George Subraj, on Friday, last, expanded his philanthropic portfolio when he, backed by a competent medical team, descended on the West Coast Demerara, Cornelia Ida area, with a plan to arrest the prevalence of a number of diseases spurred by lifestyle choices. Through a movement called the Sevak Zara Health Project, which commenced in India some two-and-ahalf years ago, Subraj, with help from Kidney Specialist, Dr. Thakor Patel, and Kidney Surgeon, Dr. Rahul Jindal, spearheaded the introduction of a massive screening venture. It is expected to cater to Cornelia Ida and its environs. It is intended to detect cases of diabetes, hypertension and chronic diseases, and also to educate
Dr. Jindal addresses a gathering at the SVN school on Friday
people about the importance of sanitation and lifestyle modification. The expert team is expected to depart Guyana today, after training six individuals who will ensure that the project is sustained. According to Dr. Patel,
the six trained individuals are teachers and students of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) School at Cornelia Ida, which had been collaborating with Mr. Subraj to ensure that the project came to fruition. Those trained had
volunteered to be a part of an intense two-month training programme inclusive of anatomy and physiology lessons that were passed on by Dr. Patel himself. Aside from being provided with a basic clinical understanding, those
trained are also expected to conduct a survey of the foods that are consumed by residents and examine the water condition they are exposed to. This information, according to Dr. Patel, will be passed on to the
government so that any necessary intervention can be swiftly introduced. Dr. Patel said that over 18,000 persons have been screened for varying forms of health issues. According to him, there (continued on page 17)