The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GHPC) yesterday received $900,000 in donations to aid in the procurement of three foetal monitors for its Neo-Natal Unit.
The National Milling Com-pany (NAMILCO), Scotia Bank and Texas-based Guyanese philanthropist Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh each handed over $300,000 to GPHC CEO Michael Khan at the Neo-Natal Unit.
According to the GPHC, the donations were in response to its drive to obtain foetal monitors,
which will help the efforts being made by the hospital to eliminate infant mortality. Khan said the monitors are on their way from China.
The total cost for the foetal monitors is $1.2 million, according to Khan, who stated that the GPHC will stand the shipping cost.
Additionally, paper was also bought for the monitor for the next six months.
Opining that the public hospital has the largest number of deliveries in the country, Khan stated that “60% of all babies born in Guyana are born at the GPHC”.
He further mentioned that the Neo-Natal Unit, which was expanded compliments of the Guyana Burn Care and Health Care Foundation, Kids First Fund and Dr Singh in March 2012, cares for most of the sick babies across Guyana.
Financial Controller at NAMILCO Fitzroy McLeod, in handing over the $300,000 cheque to GPHC, hailed the health institution for providing “great” service against what he deemed “tremendous odds”. McLeod said NAMILCO was pleased to make the donation, which though small, will encourage the hospital to continue serving the public.
Scotia Bank’s Marketing Manager, Jennifer Cipriani stated that the decision to donate was a “no brainer.
We always give with a bright smile…” She said that the donation came from the bank’s “bright future” programme – a corporate giving programme, where employees volunteer hours and funding is channelled towards initiatives for children in the areas of health and education among others.
“The donation to the hospital is being done because it is a health initiative.
We want to give children a brighter future, because they are our future leaders and we need to ensure that every baby that is born, has a chance of survival,” declared Cipriani.
A representative of Dr Singh presented the cheque on his behalf.
Michelle Martin whose baby girl is in the Neo-Natal Unit, along with Priya Surujballi and Shonette Grosvenor whose baby boys are in the unit all said they were happy about the donation.
