PRESS RELEASE

A Pillar of City Housing: Tax relief

IN the prosaic parlance of officialdom, they are deadeningly designated: the J-51 Tax Exemption and Abatement Program and Section 421a of the New York State Real Property Tax Law. But for Henrietta Cohen, an 84-year-old widow, and Azizur Rahman, an emigre from Bangladesh, they are lifelines to a decent, affordable home

First kidney transplant at GPHC deemed a success

Munesh suffered renal failure years ago because of hypertension. He has been ill for most of his childhood, but in 1995 he began experiencing chest pains and was suffering from shortness of breath.

His condition took a turn for the worse last year, preventing him from attending classes at
the Apex Academy in Guyana, where he was preparing to sit the Caribbean Secondary Schools Examination, but never had the chance to do so. Munesh was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure last October while a patient at Guyana Public Hospital Corporation's clinic and it was then that the mother decided to undergo preliminary tests to determine her chances as a possible donor to her son. After numerous tests, she was confirmed a positive match and the overseas doctors agreed to do the surgery here. This was of much relief since this surgery would have cost between US$20,000 and US$40,000 in Guyana or about US$100,000 in the United States.

First kidney transplant at GPHC deemed a success

After nearly six hours of intense and intricate medical procedures, the first kidney transplant in Guyana, hosted by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), was completed yesterday with claims from the operating team that it was a major success.

This was the disclosure made at a press conference to update the media on the operation. The medical operation, which was spearheaded by Indian-born Dr Rahul Jindal, saw 18-year-old Munesh Mangal, of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, who has for many years suffered from renal failure, receiving a kidney from his mother, 41-year-old Leelkumarie Nirananjan Mangal. In addition to Dr Jindal, an Attending General Surgeon at the Brookdale University Hospital, the team consisted of Dr Edward M. Falta (Transplant Surgeon of the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre (WRAMC), Washington); Dr Melenie Guerero, (Pulmonary Care Physician), Laura Owens (Transplant Coordinator) and Dr Arthur L. Womble, attached to the Athens-Limestone Hospital, Athens, Alabama.

Historic kidney transplant completed in seven hours -'new hope' patient being monitored

Guyana’s first kidney transplant surgery was successfully completed in seven hours yesterday and
patient Munesh Mangal was reportedly doing well, but will remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at
the Georgetown Public Hospital for the next few days as doctors monitor his condition.

The possibility of Mangal rejecting his mother’s donated kidney is among immediate concerns though the compatibility tests done earlier were positive, and based on an early prognosis yesterday the 18- year-old’s body was responding well to his new kidney.

Team awarded for successful kidney transplant

After conducting a successful kidney transplant for the first time here in Guyana, the team of
doctors which made the operation a success was last evening presented with awards, indicating
Munesh Mangal’s (the kidney patient) appreciation for giving him another chance to live.
Caribbean Airlines, Buddy’s International Hotel and the Neal and Massy Group were also
awarded for their participation in making the surgery a successful one.
All told, those who received awards were Dr. Melanie Guerrero, Dr. Edward Falta, Dr. Arthur
Womble, Dr. Rahul Jindal, Nurse Laura Owen, Jas Persaud, General Manager for Caribbean
Airlines, Carlton Defour, Mr. Sanders also of Caribbean Airlines, Neal and Massy
representative, Shameer Hoosein, and Om Prakash Shivraj.
Special mention was also given to Tony Yassin, Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, and
Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall among others for their contribution toward making the
surgery a success.
The initiative to have the operation done in Guyana was spearheaded by New York-based
Guyanese, Mr. George Subraj, after he saw a flyer that was being circulated for financial
assistance for the kidney patient.

U.S. doctors take part in Guyana's first kidney transplant surgery

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (July 13, 2008) - Two doctors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., teamed with U.S. and Guyanese doctors to successfully complete Guyana’s first kidney transplant surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital July 12.
Indian-born Dr. Rahul Jindal of Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn and a Reservist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, was lead attending surgeon, while Dr. Edward Falta, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, was transplant surgeon, along with two doctors and a transplant coordinator from Athens-Limestone Hospital in Athens, Ala., and seven Guyanese doctors.

George Subraj, the man behind the scenes of Guyana's first kidney transplant

Were it nor for the persistence of George Subraj, Guyana’s first kidney transplant surgery might still
be months away or longer. However, the only thing the overseas-based businessman took credit for was getting involved and seeing things through to the end of what he said was an incredible journey.
Though he emphasised teamwork, Subraj made the phone calls; met the doctors; coordinated the
earlier and recent visits here and handled the fundraising. He called it “merely some of the work” but others summed it up as the work that essentially made everything happen.
Though he is well known in Queens, New York as President of Zara Luxury Apartments, very few here knew Subraj or anything

ICC Honors George Subraj for his Pioneering Role

New York, July 23, 2008: In a colourful but dignified ceremony at the elegant Sri Devi Mandir, leaders of the Guyana Diaspora community gathered on Sunday to confer upon Mr. George Subraj, the man who helped to pioneer the first kidney transplant surgery in Guyana, the "Order of Excellence." The overseas coordinator of that project, Mr. Lake Persaud, was also granted a citation for his role, as well as, for his 15- year contribution to radio broadcasting and charitable work. The esteemed guests were first warmly welcomed at the Mandir by the officiating priest, Pt Tillackdharry Seerattan, who himself, is a devout humanitarian worker.

US-based Guyanese initiate Computer Training Centre

New York, July 23, 2008: In a colourful but dignified ceremony at the elegant Sri Devi Mandir, leaders of the Guyana Diaspora community gathered on Sunday to confer upon Mr. George Subraj, the man who helped to pioneer the first kidney transplant surgery in Guyana, the "Order of Excellence." The overseas coordinator of that project, Mr. Lake Persaud, was also granted a citation for his role, as well as, for his 15- year contribution to radio broadcasting and charitable work. The esteemed guests were first warmly welcomed at the Mandir by the officiating priest, Pt Tillackdharry Seerattan, who himself, is a devout humanitarian worker.

A Man For All Seasons

George Subraj has arrived!
If you were to meet with him for just a few minutes you would quickly realize that he is still on the move and almost everything around him are supplies – building blocks if you may – for his new ideas, and ideas he has. It is disappointing to note that the world around him sometimes does not move with the same enthusiasm that drives him. Yet his persistence, his alacrity, in this sometimes lethargic environment has not only reaped enormous dividends – literally transformed rather stylishly the very landscape upon which he treads - but has shown the potential for growth if you were committed, challenge-oriented character.