By Jayda Juene | HGP Nightly News
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, attended the official launch of the state-of-the-art Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Clinic at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Wednesday.
The facility—the first of its kind in Guyana—is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Health, GPHC, and the Center for Global Health at Northwell Health (USA).
Psychiatry specialist Dr. Casey Dodson explained that electroconvulsive therapy is widely regarded as one of the most effective treatments for individuals battling severe psychiatric conditions such as major depressive episodes, schizophrenia, and catatonia, particularly when traditional therapies fail.
“It’s recommended for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia or depression, as well as those who are acutely ill or violent and require urgent intervention,” Dr. Dodson noted.
Dr. Sohak Sangai, Director of the Division of Interventional Psychiatry at Northwell Health, hailed the clinic as a significant advancement for psychiatric treatment in Guyana. At the same time, Dr. Timothy Morgan, Director of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health, described it as a transformative moment for the country’s mental health system.
Minister Anthony reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernizing health services, emphasizing that the new clinic will allow patients to access evidence-based treatments that meet international standards.
With this launch, Guyana joins a growing list of countries offering advanced psychiatric care, ensuring that more citizens have access to life-saving mental health interventions locally.
