2026 LAMAT mission: Over 80 US medical experts supporting healthcare services in Guyana

The Health Ministry on Monday officially launched the 2026 Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) Mission, welcoming an over 80-member medical team from the United States (US) to support local healthcare services and strengthen medical collaboration between the two countries.
The mission will run from March 16 to 27 at facilities designated by the Health Ministry, where US military medical professionals will work alongside local healthcare providers to deliver patient care and participate in medical knowledge exchanges.

The regional initiative will also provide more than US$300,000 in medical supplies along with expertise, marking the third LAMAT mission in Guyana following successful engagements in 2023 and 2025. Speaking at the launch of the programme on Monday at the Marriot Hotel, Kingston Georgetown, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony expressed appreciation for the collaboration, noting that this year’s mission is the largest to date.
“I want to start by saying that we are very appreciative of this mission coming to Guyana. This is the third mission, so probably we must be doing something right to get LAMAT to come back so often. The last two missions were very successful and one of the things that we learned from those missions was that the team coming from the US was able to work seamlessly with our local teams. This particular mission is the largest one we have had so far,” he said.
Dr Anthony noted that evident signs of growth had also been recorded in previous years, explaining that the health sector has been able to build significant capacity through such medical collaborations. He highlighted that in 2025 Guyana conducted several ophthalmology surgeries that had never been performed locally before. Among the most notable was a procedure carried out on a child who was almost blind. This, the Minister said was a successful surgery that restored some level of vision to the child and marked the first time such an operation had been attempted in the country. He added that these medical exchanges allow local professionals to learn from visiting teams while expanding the scope of medical procedures that can be performed in Guyana.

“And I think for some of you coming in, it gives you an opportunity to work in a different type of medical setting. Ours may not be as high-tech as what you might be accustomed to, but certainly it is an environment in which you can learn how to function and what we can do together,” he said.
He added that the collaboration is a major enhancement for the local healthcare sector. “We think that by working with different institutions in the US and other jurisdictions, we can improve and accelerate the quality of healthcare that we deliver to patients here. That’s how we see LAMAT operating, because they bring a different set of skill sets that would be very appropriate to what we are doing,” he explained. The more than 80-member medical team will conduct procedures and provide care at several institutions, including the Linden Hospital Complex, Diamond Regional Hospital, West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), De Kinderen Regional Hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the Cheddi Jagan Dental School.

Build enduring partnerships
Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Guyana, John Crippen, underscored the importance of the initiative as part of the US’ commitment to strengthening regional health systems.
“Under the strategic direction of US Southern Command, a series of key medical engagements are being executed across South America and the Caribbean. These missions are designed to build enduring partnerships, bolster the capacity of our partner nations’ medical systems and enhance our collective readiness for complex global challenges. LAMAT embodies that effort,” he said. He added that over the next two weeks the team looks forward to working with their Guyanese counterparts to further deepen bilateral relations. Commander of the LAMAT Mission, Theodore Liszeski of the US Air Force, emphasised that the initiative is grounded in collaboration and partnership.
“This mission is about working side by side, sharing knowledge and strengthening readiness through partnership. By building strong professional relationships today, we ensure that when future challenges arise, whether natural disasters or public health emergencies, we are prepared to respond together as trusted partners,” he stated. The LAMAT mission is part of the health cooperation between Guyana and the US, which has spanned decades and includes collaboration through initiatives such as the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), support during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing technical partnerships with US medical institutions. Over the course of the mission, visiting and local healthcare professionals will also participate in clinical exchanges and training activities aimed at strengthening Guyana’s healthcare system and improving patient outcomes.