Adolescent clinic opens at West Dem Hospital

In an effort to fight teenage pregnancy, the Public Health Ministry on Friday launched its adolescent clinic and teen pregnancy support group at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, West Coast Demerara.
Junior Public Health Minister Dr Karen Cummings stated that the ministry was pleased to launch the clinic in order to acutely address the various health needs of adolescents.
She said the Ministry will continue to work assiduously to remove the social and economic barriers to healthcare and wellness for young people by providing high quality comprehensive vital services in a confidential setting.
She said the ministry will advance adolescent health as a national imperative by establishing leading clinical care and fostering innovative research.
The Adolescent Health and Wellness Day is a new initiative which seeks to have one day set aside per week for the delivery of healthcare to teenagers across the nation, who are both in and out of school.
This programme will be rolled out in all 10 Regions of Guyana by December 12, 2016. The initiative was adopted from the best practices in community improvement of Maternal Health in Japan. It was first launched in 2015 in seven health centres in Region 4 as a pilot, then in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and its Adolescent Antenatal Support group focuses on reducing repeat pregnancies among adolescents along with preparing the already pregnant parents for safe delivery and caring for the newborn. The programme is set to be launched in at least two health centres in each region by the end of 2016.
Cummings stated that the clinic assures confidentiality, efficient and freedom from bias.
She added that while the ministry works at developing improved adolescent healthcare full attention will be paid to quality screening, behavioural-based health problems, health promotion, disease prevention and youth development practices.
At present, the ministry is also collaborating with the Education Ministry to launch its school health programme in primary schools. She predicted that the collaboration will be a major success since adolescent health and social problems cannot be done alone.
National Adolescent Health Coordinator, Dr Oneka Scott, told the pregnant teens present at the launch that it is the ministry’s aim to see them safely through their pregnancy and have them reintegrated into the school system, through the help of the Ministry of Education.
Scott applauded one of the fathers for coming out, stating that male partner involvement is vital in reducing unwanted pregnancies and repeat of teen pregnancies.
An important aspect of the initiative is the collaboration between the Public Health and Education ministries on school reintegration for the teenage mothers as well as the distribution of basic supplies for babies.
In January of next year, the programme will be further expanded to other health centres, until all health centres in Guyana are included.