Guyana launches 1st wellness centre to keep healthcare workers healthy 

The Health Ministry on Wednesday launched the Eccles Wellness Centre, the first facility of its kind in Guyana dedicated to preventative care for healthcare workers.
The wellness centre, located at the Eccles Heath Centre, East Bank of Demerara, will operate as a pilot programme aimed at improving the overall health of the Health Ministry’s staff through routine screenings, lifestyle counselling and early disease detection.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony described the initiative as part of the Government’s effort to transform the country’s healthcare system from what he termed “sick care” to preventative medicine.

“When you think about health and you think about the system that we have set up, whether it’s a health centre, a health post, or a hospital, all of these institutions are set up to help people when they’re sick. So basically, how our traditional sector has been poised is to get patients, so somebody has to be sick, and then they come to us, and in some terms, that’s providing sick care. We want to change that concept. And we want to keep people healthier so that they avoid getting sick to come to use the institutions,” the Minister said.
He explained that while Guyana has been working to increase life expectancy, equal focus is being placed on improving what he calls “health-span”, which is described as the number of years a person lives in good health without any form of chronic illness.
The wellness centre will offer annual medical check-ups for ministry staff, including screening for diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Services will also include ECG testing, mammograms, HPV screening and prostate cancer evaluations.

Cancer evaluations
Dr Anthony noted that early detection is critical, particularly given the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases in Guyana. Cervical and breast cancers remain the most common cancers affecting women across the nation, while prostate cancer significantly impacts men.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of HPV vaccination for both boys and girls, explaining that the virus is linked not only to cervical cancer but also to certain cancers affecting men.
Apart from clinical testing, the centre will place significant emphasis on lifestyle modification. Staff will receive guidance on healthy eating, portion control, and the reduction of ultra-processed foods. Minister Anthony encouraged greater consumption of plant-based foods, noting that studies have shown such diets are associated with lower rates of chronic diseases.
He further addressed the health risks associated with excessive salt intake, alcohol consumption and smoking, describing them as preventable contributors to long-term illnesses. The ministry, he added, continues to provide smoking cessation support, including nicotine replacement therapies.

Mental & social wellbeing
Mental and social wellbeing will also be part of the centre’s focus, with counselling services, stress management support and education on the importance of adequate sleep and maintaining strong social bonds, which are directly linked to physical wellness, though many think they are not.
Representing the Regional Health Officer of Region Four (Demerara–Mahaica) Dr Afara Khan underscored the importance of healthcare workers leading by example. She noted that many individuals only seek medical attention when illness has progressed to advanced stages. She also encouraged citizens to take advantage of the health vouchers the ministry has made readily available for each person to have access to the necessary healthcare services they may need.
She said, “With this, we can actually get early detection, early diagnosis before we even reach the stage where we cannot get help… So with the modern healthcare that we are having, it gives us that opportunity to get checked. Today, as Guyana continues to strengthen its healthcare system and introduce progressive initiatives, we have the unique opportunity now to transform how we approach health in our country. And we can move simply by treating illnesses to prevent them by early detection.”
Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr Ertensia Hamilton, described the centre as a significant step towards prioritising the welfare of health care workers, noting that ensuring the wellbeing of medical staff is essential to delivering quality health care services nationwide.
The Eccles Wellness Centre will operate as a pilot initiative, with data being collected to evaluate its effectiveness, and if successful, will be replicated across the nation as part of Guyana’s continued investment in preventative healthcare strategies.