The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of a collaborative medical mission with Operation Walk Maryland, a non-profit medical organization based in Maryland, USA. Over the course of their visit from November 14th to 21st, the team of over 50 specialized medical professionals conducted 57 joint replacement surgeries on 53 patients.
The mission’s efforts this year took place over an intensive four-day period—Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday—during which surgeries were performed on patients requiring knee and hip replacements. Despite elective surgeries typically being scheduled on weekdays, GPHC implemented special arrangements to facilitate this extraordinary mission and optimize outcomes for our patients.
The visiting team included a diverse group of healthcare specialists such as surgeons, anaesthesiologists, internal medicine specialists, nurses, technicians, and physiotherapists. Working alongside GPHC’s dedicated local staff, their efforts significantly addressed a critical surgical backlog. To date, GPHC’s orthopaedic team has performed 109 joint replacement surgeries from January to November 2024, with this mission adding 57 more to that total.
As the only public facility in Guyana offering joint replacement surgeries, GPHC continues to face an overwhelming demand for these life-changing procedures, with a current surgical waiting list of over 500 patients. While joint replacement surgeries are essential for improving the quality of life for those suffering from advanced arthritis, non-surgical management such as therapy and medication remains the initial course of treatment for most patients. Surgery is typically reserved as the final step when these methods prove insufficient.
As the mission concludes, we are pleased to report that all 53 patients have been successfully discharged, with comprehensive post-operative care plans in place.
GPHC extends its heartfelt gratitude to Operation Walk Maryland for their unwavering support and dedication to improving lives since our initial collaboration in 2018. We also commend our local medical team for their exceptional efforts in ensuring the success of this mission.
