Cabinet approves Allied Health Professions Council

…Shamdeo Persaud appointed ex-officio member

Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday announced cabinet’s approval of the re-establishment of the Allied Health Professions Council, a regulatory body which will monitor the functioning of environment health issues.
The Council, which monitors issues such as sanitation, hygiene and water in environmental health, re-establishment is long overdue, since it has not been functioning for several years.

The Council usually would include the Chief Medical Officer serving as ex-officio, two Allied Health Professionals and six representing the professional associations, while two others are from the consumers’ organisations.
Harmon stated that cabinet has recommended Patricia Woolford, who is a public health specialist, and was responsible for piloting the council, along with representatives from the consumers’ organisations, the Medical Technologist Association, the Guyana Physiotherapist Association, the Guyana Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, Nutritionists and Dieticians Association, and the Guyana Radiographers Association.
He stated that persons recommended are recognised allied health professionals. Minister Harmon named Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud as the ex-officio of the council.
The members will serve on the Council for two years from March 1, 2016 to February 28, 2018. The Council would undergo a process of reconsideration at the level of Cabinet at two-year intervals.
In 2014, the Allied Health Professions Act was amended to include health professionals who are under the purview of Environmental Health, Counselling and Testing bodies.
The Official Gazette dated March 24, 2012 indicates that the Act will govern the operations of Environmental Health Officers, Public Health Inspectors, Sanitary Inspectors, Port Health Officers and Environmental Health Assistants.