By Nelson A. King
The Brooklyn-based Action,
Performance, Commitment
(APC) group says its medical
mission team recently conducted
its 11th successful medical
mission to Guyana, the homeland
of most of its members.
“This was a small team
but very efficient and impactful,”
said Dr. Janice Emanuel
McLean, the group’s Guyaneseborn
president and chief executive
officer, who also serves as
director of the mission team.
Dr. Emanuel McLean said
the team arrived in Guyana on
April 18 and was welcomed by
the administration of the Guyana
Conference of Seventh-Day
Adventist (SDA): Pastor Exton
Clarke (president); John Joseph
(Health Ministries director);
and Pastor Hugh McKenzie,
communication director.
About 120 people participated
in the medical team’s
first assignment, a health symposium,
at the Moriah SDA
Church.
Emanuel McLean said she
presented on hypertension and
that the other presenters were
doctors Carole Marks (diabetes);
Franklin Rodney (substance
abuse); Edward McLean (mental
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health); and Caroline Howell
(exercise).
The focus of the mission was
Region 7, consisting Barima-
Waini; Essequibo islands; West
Demerara and Pomeroon-
Supenaam to the north; Upper
Demerara-Berbice to the east;
and Potaro-Siparuni, Emanuel
McLean said.
She said the team was divided
into two groups. Team A
(medical/health education)
traveled to Bartica, while Team
B (surgical) traveled to Corentyne
Berbice.
Dr. Emanuel McLean said
residents at Bartica benefited
from blood pressure, glucose
and cholesterol screening,
medical consultation and free
medications at the Bartica SDA
Church.
At the Bartica Hospital,
Emanuel McLean said she said
provided health education and
healthy eating, exercise and tips
on healthy living; Dr. Marks
saw patients from the Diabetes
and Hypertension Clinics; Drs.
Rodney and Edward McLean
provided substance abuse and
mental health counseling; and
nurse Conrad Forsythe and
John Joseph performed blood
pressure and glucose screening.
Dr. Yvonne Peters and Claire
Patterson Monah were occupied
with record keeping, monitoring
supplies and “ensuring that
all aspects of our operations
were efficient and effective,”
Emanuel McLean said.
The team also visited Agatash,
a small scenic, predominantly
Amerindian community,
with a population about 500-
600, where the team provided
medical care and medications,
health education, mental health
and substance abuse counseling,
as well as blood pressure
and glucose screening.
Dr. Emanuel McLean said a
significant number of individuals
benefited from the services
APC Medical Team at Bartica Hospital Region 7 in Guyana.
From left: RN Conrad Forsythe; Dr. Janice Emanuel
McLean; Dr. Edward Sagala (Regional Health Offi cer); Dr.
Carole Marks; Dr. Gillian Jardine (Medical Superintendent,
Bartica Hospital); Dr. Edward McLean; Registered Dietitian
(RD) Claire Patterson Monah; RN John Joseph; Dr. Franklin
Rodney; and Dr. Yvonne Peters. APC Medical Mission
offered by the team, including
medications, substance abuse
and mental health counseling,
at River’s View Clinic, where the
community is a largely indigenous
residents at Lower Bonasika
in the Essequibo River.
She said the team was
“amazed at the number of persons
who presented with uncontrolled
diabetes, high blood
pressure and high cholesterol,”
emphasizing the importance
of life style changes, especially
healthy eating and exercise. Dr.
Marks focused on medication
adherence.
They both agreed that health
education and awareness need
to play a more significant role
in medical services offered to
patients.
APC medical team donated all
the remaining medications and
supplies to the Bartica Hospital,
valued at about US$20,000.
Brooklyn medical group
conducts mission in Guyana
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