Hundreds of persons benefitted from free healthcare and drugs at medical outreaches throughout the country when the Guyana Islamic Trust observed its annual Islamic Awareness Week (IAW) activities recently.
Clinics were set up at various venues, including Bush Lot in West Berbice, Sheet Anchor (under the Canje Bridge), Corentyne, Georgetown, the East Coast and West Coast of Demerara, Linden and Essequibo.
According to a coordinator in Berbice, drugs for the outreach were supplied by the Guyana International Relief Organisation (GIRO), which is an arm of the GIT.
At the Bush Lot clinic, patients were treated by Dr. Alexander Sinclair and Regional Health Officer Dr. Shri Devi Jagjit, of the Fort Wellington Hospital (FWH) along with paediatrician Dr. Radha Luknauth, of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).
They were assisted by Shaneeza Saywack, a pharmacy assistant of the GPH and nurse Bowman of the FWH. Most of the complaints were for cold and flu, diabetes, hypertension, as well as pain and skin infections.
A women’s health seminar on cervical cancer organised by the National Islamic Sisters’ Association (NISA) was also held at Bush Lot a few days before. It was conducted by Dr. Jagjit, who highlighted the causes and prevention of cervical cancer.
She also held an interactive session with the women, some of whom were thereafter referred to the Mahaicony Hospital to undergo VIA (visual inspection with acetic acid) tests for cervical cancer.
Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy also attended the programme and spoke to the women on the importance of taking care of themselves. He was also happy with the initiative of NISA to bring the lecture to the community.
The women also benefited from a presentation on ‘Islam and Family Life’ by Executive member of NISA Shazida Abdulla. Meanwhile, volunteers for the IAW activities visited the homes of sick and needy persons and distributed clothing and food packages. The main focus of IAW is to raise “national interest and awareness of Islam as a divine, unique and complete system of life.”
It also featured three Islamic scholars on comparative religion; Shaikh Muhammad Awal of the US, and Shaikh Ziaullah Khan and Shaikh Mohamed Khalil Yaffa of Canada.
Apart from IAW, the GIT also conducts outreach programmes throughout the year to benefit Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
