Brisk health walk kicks off Lab Professionals Week

Source: Guyana Chronicle, 21st April 2008

A rejuvenating and challengingly brisk health walk yesterday morning from the Bank of Guyana Building, Avenue of the Republic in the city, to Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, set the tone for a week of activities in observance of National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2008.


Among the hundreds marching under banners which boasted the week’s theme: ‘Delivering today’s results for a healthier tomorrow’, were Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy; PAHO’s Resident Representative - Dr. Kathleen Israel; Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat – Dr. Shanti Singh; CDC’s Dr. L. Hasbrouck and Director of Laboratories/Acting Director of Standards and Technical Services, Ministry of Health, Ms. Yvette Irving.

The event attracted participants from both the public and private sectors in Georgetown and outlying regions.

Following the march, brief remarks were made by Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Dr. Kathleen Israel and CDC’s Dr. Hasbrouck; Director of Laboratories, Ms. Yvette Irving delivered the Vote of Thanks.

The speakers all congratulated the Laboratory Professionals for the great job they are doing “working from behind the scene,” in the health sector. They concurred that the clinical laboratory professionals are indeed ‘key members’ of Guyana’s health care team.

According to Ms. Irving “Laboratory professionals have the skills to unlock important medical information that is pivotal to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases.” She noted that daily, physicians, nurses, and other medical workers depend on them to perform tests and deliver results that provide a complete picture of a patient’s health.

“Without this precise and valuable information,” she stated, “medicine would simply become guess work.”

Dr. Kathleen Israel who commended the laboratory personnel for the work they do in Guyana, observed that they have been able to distinguish themselves as a professional group, while coordinating and harnessing an admirable public/private sector partnership in Guyana.

Noting that the challenges of the job are huge for any health care provider, Dr. Israel urged them to stay interested in their work, and assured that entities such as the Ministry of Health, PAHO and CDC will be there to support them.

Meanwhile, an eminently elated Dr. Ramsammy expressed kudos for his laboratory professionals. The Health Minister observed that laboratory professionals in Guyana have many things to celebrate, and the march and the week of activities are being used to make people more aware of the new things unfolding in the sector.

Proud that Laboratory Week has now become a part of the Public Health landscape in our country, Dr. Ramsammy announced that Guyana is now one of the leading countries in promoting laboratory science, and the pioneer country in CARICOM when it comes to highlighting the work of the laboratory professionals.

And CDC’s Dr. Hasbrouck had more words of commendation and appreciation for the work of the laboratory professionals: “Those of you who have chosen this profession, have indeed chosen a high calling,” he asserted.

Dr. Hasbrouck also commented on the National Public Health Institute – the state of the art facility of which Dr. Ramsammy spoke, and announced that CDC is a proud partner in the project which is due to be completed some time June. He said the building will stand as a testament to CDC’s commitment, in terms of their partnership with the Ministry of Health.

He also expressed the view that the facility will stand as a commitment to giving the Ministry of Health the highest level quality Laboratory sciences in the country, and hopefully in the region.