Dear Editor,
As we approach the ending of 2020 it is a time for reflection on the work, challenges and achievements of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
2020 was a unique year during which we faced our traditional challenges and a new challenge, that of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused us all to become worried about the safety and well-being of our patients, families, loved ones and ourselves.
As we continue to experience the unprecedented nature and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wish to commend all staff members for their efforts towards us achieving our mandate of providing quality health care to our patients. I am especially proud of the staff within the various departments, here at the GPHC, and those from our satellite clinics at Enmore, Campbellville, Kitty and Industry who demonstrated dedication and commitment towards providing care for those patients who depend on our services.
As your CEO, I am particularly proud of our efforts at enforcing and adhering to those infection prevention and control guidelines which ensured that all cases of COVID-19 were managed in a safe and secure environment while we remained safe throughout the year. Thank you for providing a service which only you, health care professionals, can provide!
To our support staff, who might not have been directly involved in the treatment of patients, your roles were equally important since you provided the platform upon which those health care professionals depended.
To those who benefited from our services – we thank you for your patience, understanding and consideration in what has proven to be a very challenging year during which the GPHC had to initiate changes designed to protect our staff and you while we continued to provide service. Thank you for understanding!
We, at the GPHC, have been encouraged by the outpouring of support we have received throughout the year from our overseas partners and the wider Guyanese society – our stakeholders, donors, supporters, local health care partners – without your support our journey would have been much more difficult. The messages of support, gratitude, acts of generosity and words of encouragement were powerful affirmations for our staff. Thank you.
Typically, during the Christmas season there are elevated admissions of patients with traumatic injuries at the Accident and Emergency Department of GPHC. I wish to implore all citizens to exercise caution and care as we celebrate, to stay safe and look out for each other. I appeal to all to do our part to reduce the patient load on our hardworking staff by continuing to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines – mask up, maintain physical
distancing when in public and always practice good hand hygiene.
Yours faithfully,
Brigadier (ret’d) George
Allan Lewis, MSS., MSc.
Chief Executive Officer
