Health ministry hails late paediatrician
Paediatrician, Dr Hardat Persaud, died on January 14 at the age of 61 after a period of illness.
In a release yesterday, the Ministry of Health (MoH) paid tribute to the man it described as a highly respected doctor in Guyana, a remarkable individual who devoted his life to the well-being of children, and a compassionate and skilled paediatrician who was a true advocate for the health and happiness of young ones.
According to the release, Dr Persaud, affectionately known as the ‘Baby Doctor,’ was a “beacon of light, a source of comfort, and a pillar of strength for innumerable families.” His career which spanned over 30 years, “profoundly” impacted the lives of the children and families he served, extending beyond the walls of his clinic and leaving an indelible mark on their hearts. Thousands of families entrusted the health and welfare of their children to his expert and loving care and some of these children are now young parents with their children for whom Dr Persaud was the paediatrician.
Dr Persaud received his medical degree from the Russian Friendship University in Moscow, Russia, in 1990 after being granted a scholarship by the Government of Guyana to pursue medicine. He earned his post-graduate certification in Pediatric Esophagogastroduodenoscopy from the same university in 1993 and completed his studies and certification in Special Care Nursery through a Neonatology Fellowship at University Hospital, University of the West Indies, Jamaica, in 1995.
Apart from his competence and expertise, parents were primarily drawn to him because of his humility, generosity, and availability, the release said. He was compassionate and dedicated to helping others as much as possible, and he conveyed this quality to everyone he met through his actions, not just his words. In short, he was the quintessential family physician.
The tribute noted that Dr Persaud went above and beyond his role as a medical professional, describing him as a mentor a confidant, and a source of reassurance for parents navigating the complexities of raising children. It recalled his gentle touch and warm smile which transformed routine check-ups into moments of shared understanding and empathy. Through his wisdom and guidance, he not only treated physical ailments but also provided invaluable support to parents in nurturing their children’s emotional and psychological well-being.
Dr Persaud had an illustrious career in various positions within Guyana’s health sector. He spent over 30 years as a paediatrician, serving the public and private sectors. Between 1993 and 1999, he worked as the Head of Pediatrics at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Following this, he briefly worked at Prashad’s Hospital before leaving in 2000 to focus on his full-time private practice at Woodlands Hospital, where he worked until his recent illness.
He also played a significant role in developing Guyana’s paediatric primary care programme. He was a vital resource contributing to the evaluation of neonatal care in the outlying regions of the country and the development of national treatment guidelines and paediatric care protocols and was one of the key persons who initially conceptualised the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Even when he worked as a private practitioner, he continued to support the Ministry of Health by being one of the private practitioners who strongly supported the Ministry’s immunisation goals as well as being among the few private practitioners who championed the HPV vaccination programme, the release added.
Dr Persaud also provided invaluable assistance in assessing and identifying children who required cardiac treatment overseas and played a vital role in ensuring these children received the best care by carefully evaluating each case and providing accurate diagnoses. As a result of his dedication, many children were able to access treatment abroad to improve their health and well-being.
In addition to his work with cardiac patients, Dr Persaud also devoted a significant amount of time and effort to managing autistic patients. He assisted parents and other caregivers in forming support groups, raised awareness about autism, as well as providing the best possible care and support for patients with this condition. He worked closely with many voluntary organisations to do medical outreaches to underserved communities and always gave his expertise generously when asked to participate.