Davis Memorial launches new dental surgery
Expansion plans include Radiology Centre
Stabroek News
March 26, 2004
A state-of-the-art Dental Clinic was officially opened to the public at the Davis Memorial Hospital (DMH) yesterday.
Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of the Loma Linda University, Dr. Richard Hart said his institution had been working with the DMH to launch the clinic since November 2002.
Dental Surgeon attached to the clinic, Dr Karla Guerra-Boutet, told Stabroek News the clinic will offer all dental services including cleaning, polishing, filling, extraction, whitening, surgical procedures and removable dentures.
CEO of the DMH, Bertie Henry, in brief remarks said it has been 26 years since the institution had a full-time dentist and praised the Loma Linda University for its contribution towards this new development.
Health Ministries Director of the General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist, Inter-American Dr Elie Honore noted that the church has a major health care programme and has always placed emphasis on the overall well-being of the individual.
He remarked that when one thinks about one's health, "...the mouth is often forgotten..." thus this clinic should serve as a reminder of the importance of oral health care.
Meanwhile, Dr Hart noted that the DMH has enormous potential for expansion as a significant health care provider in Guyana. And he disclosed that there are three projects currently on stream to foster this advancement. These include efforts to establish a new Surgical Suite and a Health and Diagnostic Centre with holding capacity for eight to ten and two to three doctors' and dentists' offices, respectively. Loma Linda and DMH are also working toward setting up a Radiology Centre and Clini-cal Laboratory and expanding staff housing at the DMH.
Dr Hart further revealed that three education programmes are also in progress: a nine-month Foundation Health Care Worker course geared to equip high school graduates with basic medical skills; a continuing education programme in conjunction with the Ministry of Health for registered nurses seeking additional qualifications and the recently introduced Community Health Educators programme to train particularly women in nutrition and exercise in order to help reduce and eliminate the effects of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
He commended the government, non-governmental organisations and other institutions for their assistance.