While on our medical missions to Guyana in 2016 and 2017, Dr. Clare Mitchell (Developmental Paediatrician and Medical Director of CanGO saw eight (8) children with cleft lip and/or palate, requiring surgery in Region 1 (Karaburi and Santa Rosa), and in Region 2 (Kabakaburi, Warakaba and Charity). These children were then referred to Dr. John Mitchell, President of the Health and Educational Relief Organization (H.E.R.O.), an American organization. All eight (8) children were accepted for surgery by H.E.R.O.

Over the ensuing months, Ms Yvonne Triesman, President of CanGO, communicated regularly with the Guyana Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Regional Heath Officers for Regions 1 and 2 to inform them of the planned surgeries and to coordinate medical care, transportation and accommodation for the children and their caregivers.

On March 2, 2018 one of CanGO’s Directors, Mr. Conrad Joseph, flew to Guyana to make final arrangements for the children and a parent each to travel to Georgetown for the surgery and for accommodation for the group while the children were having surgery. Mr. Sharir Chan, Chief Operating Officer of Guyana Medical Relief (GMR) partnered with CanGO on this project. On March 9, Conrad and Sharir met all the children and their parents in Charity and brought them to Georgetown where arrangements were made, through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, for them to stay at the Amerindian Hostel.

On March 9, children had their pre-operation (Pre-Op) visit with Dr. Doron Ringler, an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon from New York, who performed the surgeries and was assisted by Dr. Rajkumar, a local Plastic Surgeon. Over the next three (3) days, seven (7) of the eight children had surgery. Unfortunately the eighth child was sent home because she had surgery previously at the Georgetown Hospital and will need to return in August for additional surgery. Most children were released from the hospital the day after their surgery. However, two (2) children had Post-Op infections and one (1) had to have a blood transfusion, which is why their stay was a little longer. All the surgeries were successful.

On March 22, 2018 the children had their Post-Op appointment with Dr. Rajkumar, and Sharir accompanied them back to Charity where they boarded the boats to their homes in the Upper Pomeroon and the Moruca areas.

CanGO is indebted to the many stakeholders who came together to make these life-changing surgeries possible:

Dr. Doron Ringler and Dr. John Mitchell of H.E.R.O. and Dr. Rajkumar, the local Plastic Surgeon, for fitting the children’s operations into their very busy surgical schedule.

Mr. Conrad Joseph of CanGO and Mr. Sharir Chan of GMR who made all the arrangements for the children to have this life-changing operation.

Dr. Clare Mitchell, Medical Director of CanGO, who continues to be very passionate about taking care of all children, especially those with special needs.

Ms Yvonne Triesman, Presdent of CanGO, whose tireless coordination, communication and attention to detail, led to a successful collaboration between diverse groups.

The many Guyana government agencies: Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Ministry of Public Health, Regional Heath Officer for Region 1 (Dr. Cerdel McWatt) and the Chairman of Region 2 (Mr. Ramdatt).

In the Fall of 2018 the CanGO team plans to return to regions 1 and 2 to provide developmental and therapeutic follow-up for the children who received surgery.