Through a joint effort by the governments of Guyana and China spanking new living quarters for visiting medical teams from China was declared opened yesterday which should end complaints of improper housing by the visiting doctors.

The spanking new doctors living quarters on East Street.

The building on East Street, which Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy said would eventually cost $120 million when the landscaping and fencing are completed, was declared open by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

According to Director of Medical & Professional Services of the Georgetown Public Hospital, Dr Madan Rambarran the government through the years has been providing housing for the doctors but there have been complaints about some of the accommodation provided.
He said that in 2007 following the suggestion of the doctor who headed the medical batch that year, the idea of a building specifically for the doctors was discussed.

The government of Guyana donated the land, which once had a building that was used by doctors as living quarters, along with funding while China contributed US$350,000. Rambarran said the building houses 15 self-contained apartments, a fully equipped kitchen, a dining room, exercise room, storage room among other areas. There is still some finishing work left to be done.

Ramsammy in his remarks spoke of how important the services provided by the visiting medical teams has been to the health sector as they have not only treated patients but have also trained persons while the Chinese government has provided equipment in some areas.

He noted that it was with the help of those doctors that the local eye care programme was improved and today with assistance from Cuba the country can now perform cataract surgeries and the patient can return home the same day.

Meanwhile, speaking through an interpreter, Director of the Division of International Cooperation in China’s Ministry of Health, Liji Wang, said yesterday’s event represented a true symbol of the friendship between the two countries.

And China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Jun Gao, in his remarks noted that way back in 1993 Guyana became the only country in South America to receive a batch of medical personnel from China. Fifteen years and eight batches of medical teams later – they spend a period of two years in Guyana – over 100 Chinese doctors have visited Guyana. He noted that the building of the housing facility has “encountered many difficulties” but he was happy that it finally became a reality.

He said with better living quarters the doctors would now be better able to deliver their services.