Guyana’s cardiovascular disease mortality rate highest in the Americas

President Dr Irfaan Ali has sounded the alarm on the country’s mounting cardiovascular crisis, revealing that Guyana has the highest cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rate in the Americas, with a staggering 525 deaths per 100,000 people — a rate 2.5 times higher than that of Canada.

Speaking at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston during the announcement of a transformative partnership between Northwell Health and the George Subraj Foundation, the President detailed a sweeping national cardiac care strategy. As part of the effort, the George Subraj Foundation has committed $209 million towards improving cardiac care delivery, research, and training.
“Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Guyana. In fact, our cardiovascular disease rates are among the highest in the entire Americas…Today, we have the opportunity to invest in totality. So, the prevention, the detection, and the intervention can all go seamlessly together. This is not the path we want to remain on. This is not a legacy we want to leave for our children. If you are serious about guaranteeing better health outcomes for Guyanese citizens, we must tackle this crisis head on. And not just with words, but with action,” President Ali stated.
After years of isolated investment in segments of the health system, the President said the time had come for a complete, integrated approach to health care — from prevention and education to diagnostics and treatment.
With Northwell Health bringing world-class expertise and the Subraj Foundation providing long-standing philanthropic support, the partnership aims to reduce CVD mortality by 30 per cent by 2030. The plan includes 100 per cent regional access to cardiovascular diagnostic services, fully operationalised cardiac catheterization labs, and ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome) protocols in place by the decade’s end.
“Since we have started work with Northwell, I think that centralised operation would have responded to more than 34,000 persons. More than 34,000 persons. The second aspect is nursing education, recruitment, and retention. The third is neurology services, brain and neurology services. The fourth is cardiovascular services. Fifth, cancer screening, prevention, and care. And there are some very clear objectives that Northwell is willing to hold themselves accountable to in each of these areas,” he explained.
Beyond infrastructure, the Government’s strategy emphasises public health education and lifestyle changes. Ali called for a cultural shift around early screening, particularly among men, criticising the stigma that prevents many from seeking examinations.
“Prostate cancer accounts for 21.1 per cent of cancers in Guyana, but many men still avoid getting checked. It’s senseless,” he said. “Early detection saves lives.”
Statistics also show breast cancer accounts for 18.7 per cent of cancers, cervical cancer, 10.5 per cent, and colorectal cancer, 6.4 per cent, with cervical cancer largely preventable through vaccination. President Ali pledged to continue ramping up education campaigns, especially in schools and communities, to increase awareness and encourage healthier lifestyles.