Bishaidrun Village Outreach

A RAM Airborne medical outreach in partnership with the Ministry of Health recently visited the remote village of Bishairdrun in the deep south of the Rupununi.  On board the Cessna was a Medex, Dentex, Malaria Microscopist, Environmental Health officer and HIV councilor and tester.  The combined team delivered 164 individual services including twenty one vaccinations.

A colaborative village project a few years ago to build and certify this new airstrip along the Brazil boarder miles west of Achiwib has allowed for emergency access and outreach activities.  Pictured here is Aishalton Dentex Nicolei Poon working to extract the painful tooth of a local resident. 

Following the outreach programme the same afternoon there was still enough daylight to pick up two 'medivac' patients with the RAM air-ambulance; one an obstetric emergency out of Annai airstrip.



 

Taking HIV care and support to the next level.

Seven Remote Area Medical (RAM) volunteers and staff completed a week long training on Friday in Lethem. Special thanks to the facilitator Graham Atkinson who came all the way from the Maruca branch of the GRCS to conduct the ground breaking HIV/AIDS sessions for Lethem residents.

Some of the subjects covered included nutrition, home based care, adherence, community based counseling, and care for care givers. Region nine faces major geographical and resource challenges in providing basic services to remote HIV positive clients.

Earlier this month, another Regional AIDS Action Committee meeting was held for collaboration and coordination of related activities between six NGO and public agencies based in Region Nine.

Pills Prevent H.I.V. Infection in 2 New Studies

Two new studies released on Wednesday add to the growing body of evidence that taking a daily pill containing one or two AIDS drugs can keep an uninfected person from catching the fatal human immunodeficiency virus.

As it becomes ever clearer that modern antiretroviral drugs can not only treat the disease but prevent it, pressure is likely to increase on donors to find more money to supply them in places like Africa and on pharmaceutical manufacturers to either sell them cheaply or release their patents to companies that can.

"This is an extremely exciting day for H.I.V. prevention," said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of AIDS prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. "It's clear we're not going to find a magic pill that prevents it, but this is adding more to the tool kit."

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Published: July 14, 2011 (New York Times).

Remote Area Medical is supported by the CDC in Atlanta to conduct HIV prevention and support in the Rupununi district of Southern Guyana. As part of the activities, the Regional AIDS Action Commitee met again this month in Lethem with representation from seven organizations. There is much work remaining to extend critical prevention services to the dozens of remote, vulnerable communities in the district.

Thank You.

Special thanks are due to the following organizations for their generous in-kind contributions for our flood relief and recovery efforts:

- Farfan and Mendez
- Kirkpatrick's Catering
- Professional Guards Service
- Takubin Farms
- Twins Pharmacy
- VSO staff and volunteers

These agencies were outstanding in stepping up to provide timely contributions to alleviate the suffering of flood affected Guyanese. Additionally we would like to acknowledge the significant efforts of the following organizations during this difficult period:

- Mine's Services Limited
- Bounty Farms Ltd
- Rotarians nationwide
- The Beacon Foundation.

The local volunteers who gave generously of their time and resources as well as numerous other organizations can unfortunately not all be mentioned in this small space. We are truly grateful to every one of them and apologize in advance for unintentionally failing to mention a particular contribution. Together we work to prepare for and respond to the challenges of the future.