In April and October of 2004 the Diakonesseshuis Hospital hosted Global ENT Outreach. Otolaryngology services were provided at the hospital and ENT clinic in the largest city and the country's capital of Paramaribo. Suriname, the former Dutch Guyana, gained its independence in 1975. It is located on the northeast coast of South America between French Guyana and Guyana.
Suriname is the home to 435,000 Surinamese who represent the following groups : Hindustani ("East Indians"), Creole, Javanese, Chinese, Bush Negros, and Dutch. Today there are more Surinamese living in the Netherlands and holding Dutch passports than there are living in Suriname, a choice given to the people when they received their independence.
There are three hospitals in Paramaribo, one CT scan and no MRIs. Two ENT's live there and work part time. Due to the shortage and a high demand for ENT services, Dr. Jim Bean, MD, ENT clinic director from Holland, meets the demands by rotating ENT physicians from Holland to staff the clinic year round.
Clinic patients ages ranged from newborns to those in their nineties. Diagnosis of atresia, otoslcerosis, fungal otitis, allergies-sinusitis, and thyroid disorders were treated. Twenty surgeries were performed including thyroidectomy, tympanoplasty, stapendectomy, removal of foreign bodies, and tonsillectomy.
The opportunity to visit and work in Suriname as a general Otolaryngologist is available to those who are interested.