Lack of testing kits due to systemic gaps – Minister

Hinterland HIV testing, treatment’

…says new procurement unit would eliminate lapses

Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings, said the recent revelation that pregnant women in the hinterland regions are not receiving HIV tests is one that

would be quickly addressed, while explaining that the lack of testing kits is due to some lapses in the delivery system resulting in the late delivery of the testing kits.
The revelation was one of the official findings of the study on Indigenous Women and Children in 12 communities, conducted by the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry in collaboration with UNICEF. The report was handed over to the Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock, last week.
The aim of the study was to contribute to a greater understanding of Indigenous women and children regarding cultural/traditional practices as it relates to medicines; sexual and reproductive health issues; build or strengthen the resilience of children, families, communities and systems to natural disasters, conflicts chronic systemic crises and social conflicts. Additionally, it sought to examine decision-making processes on health and protection issues; strengthen the provision of equitable prevention and response to different forms of child violence, including gender-based violence; inform the development of a robust, sustained, early childhood development and equitable and inclusive education programmes for Amerindian children. It also sought to explore women’s leadership skills and their capacity building needs at the community level; explore livelihood and, empowerment opportunities; provide evidence for national and sub-national planning and developmental processes to contribute to an enabling environment, for Indigenous women and children, and determine the knowledge, perceptions and roles that were played by Indigenous peoples in the preservation of the environment and climate change and what are their current roles.
The study was conducted in Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) and Indigenous communities in coastal regions in Akawini, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Santa Mission, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); St Cuthbert Mission/Pakuri, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Moraikobai, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Orealla and Siparuta, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); and River View, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Following the publishing of the findings, Minister Cummings said it is the Public Health Ministry’s objective to ensure that the gap in health-care delivery between the coastland and hinterland is bridged. She explained that under the Integrated Health Services programme, they are working with communities to deliver quality health care.
She added that there might have been issues in the delivery of the kits resulting in the shortage of the kits. She suggested that at the time the study was conducted, maybe the kits were not at the facilities due to the delivery lapses.
In relation to the lack of antenatal HIV testing, the Minister said, “It is a requirement that during the antenatal visit the mother go to the clinic and in our workup, there is counselling and taking out samples for blood testing and HIV. So, it is a policy that we have in the Ministry of Public Health so to say that it is not done is really not correct,” she said.
“I was advised that between October (2017) to January (2018) we should have all our supplies. I know we hadn’t then but at least we will have before the year is out. We had a lot of setbacks in pervious things, we had some hurdles, some obstacles and we know where the gaps are and we have a new procurement unit in our Ministry and we are working assiduously to ensure drug and equipment and medical supplies shortage be a thing of the past,” Cummings said.
The specific finding of the report raised eyebrows since mining is one of the main activities in the hinterland regions and persons with all sorts of medical conditions frequent those areas to work.