Border villages need health care boost – ACTO summit

As the two-day Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) technical meeting on indigenous health care in the border regions of Guyana came to a close on Friday at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), several border villages have been identified as needing a boost in the health care system.
The conference, which focused on recommendations for improving an Indigenous Health Care system in the Border Regions between Brazil, Guyana and Suriname, was declared opened on Wednesday evening at the Hotel Amazonas in Lethem by Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock.

This project targets information sharing and exchange of experiences to contribute to the elaboration of an epidemiological and demographic diagnosis (population, indigenous peoples, and communities), identify common criteria among member countries based on the experiences of participants in the tri-national event, and assess the capacities in the region to deal with emergencies. This year’s conference also serves as a follow-up on the recommendations of the first tri-national meeting held in 2014, and to identify criteria that can be considered in the health guidelines of the participating countries.
At the opening ceremony, the minister reminded the delegations representing the three countries (Guyana, Brazil and Suriname) of the significance of the meeting, since it is a very important point in the development of Guyana, and more so the development of a better relationship with the eight countries in ACTO.
Upon conclusion on Friday, the two-day session was dubbed “highly successful” by the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry – that which builds the foundation for significant improvement in the lives of Guyana’s indigenous peoples, and one which is supportive of one of the Government’s top priorities, which is to build a healthy nation.
Among the recommendations agreed on are the signing of a memorandum of understanding to facilitate timely sharing and access to information; training of indigenous health agents; making available information on vaccination campaigns between the countries; and sharing of information on the clinical situation of patients across the border.
According to the minister, this was a step in the right direction, and Guyana looks forward to continue working with ACTO to improve cross-border relations.