GPHC benefits from GT&T generated $5M

Jun 07, 2009 News

Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, described the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) on Friday, as a “marvellous corporate partner”.
The Minister’s remarks came when the proceeds of a venture undertaken by the telephone company, was ceremoniously handed over to the Paediatric Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
Head of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, Dr Shanti Singh, said that the initiative which led to Friday’s ceremony was launched in 2007, and was intended to target specifically vulnerable children. The initiative, she said, yielded $5M which was handed over to the GPHC to procure equipment and other supplies for the Paediatric ward.

Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Michael Khan, said that among items procured are hi-tech medicine carts, specialised scales for babies and children who cannot stand on their own, ECG monitors, blood pressure machines with special cuffs for children, and specialised paediatric beds and mattresses.
He said that a total of $500,000 is yet to be expended to enhance the Paediatric Ward. Khan noted that the GPHC is the hub of health care, thus, it is encouraging that GT&T along with members of the public have contributed to its improvement.
Marketing Manager of GT&T, Wystan Robertson, said that the venture started after several persons within the telephone company decided that they wanted to give back something tangible to a vulnerable section of the society.

GT&T had donated an initial $1M before devising a plan to incorporate members of the public.
The process, according to him, involved subscribers texting in donations through the ME2U service and by making physical payments at the GT&T office. Funds were also generated for the cause when persons accessed the C-Point top up service, which saw one percent of the cost being directed to the venture, Robertson said.
The Marketing Manager expressed satisfaction that the proceeds of the venture have proven to be helpful to the hospital, adding that “at least we have been able to contribute, similar to the way GT&T brings state-of-the-art cutting technology to the public.”
According to Minister Ramsammy, GT&T has found a way of not only continuing and intensifying its collaboration and partnership with the Ministry of Health, but they also found a way of bringing in the public.