Although most births result in well newborn babies, about 10-15 per cent of all babies require some level of intensive care. This neonatal intensive care can include care for breathing problems, infections, metabolic issues, and so on. The highest level of neonatal intensive care, sometimes designated as Level III care, is rarely needed and is usually centralised in most countries. The Level III neonatal intensive care unit in Guyana is located at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). However, most women deliver their babies closer to home, and therefore neonatal intensive care must be available for those babies and thus the Guyana Neonatal Network was formed.
Over the last ten years, the ability to care for critical babies under 28 days of age (neonates) has improved tremendously in Guyana. GPHC continues to be the Level III centre with the ability to care for babies requiring the highest levels of complex care, prolonged ventilatory support and babies who require surgery and postoperative care.
Recognising the need to decentralise neonatal care, in 2022 through a collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Giving Health to Kids Charity (GHTK), neonatal equipment was purchased and delivered to Regional Neonatal Units at New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), Public Hospital Suddie, Bartica Regional Hospital, Linden Hospital, Mabaruma Hospital, Lethem Hospital and Kumaka Hospital.
Lethem NICU Team, led by Dr Olissa Telford (Paediatrician)
During this time these centres had appropriate physician and staff training and deployment, including having a resident Pediatrician or Neonatologist (Doctor trained to take care of critical babies), as well as dedicated trained neonatal nursing staff at each site.
With this influx of specialised neonatal equipment, the need for support, monitoring, and education arose. A Network of Physicians and Nurses who work in these centres, representatives from the Ministry of Health-Regional Health Services, and a partner from GHTK was established and called the Guyana Neonatal Network. The Guyana Neonatal Network consists of regional staff and does not include GPHC. It is focused on all the necessary tasks needed to elevate the standard of care in each centre and to get them to be fully functional as Level II neonatal intensive care units (ICU).
This included ensuring the necessary medications, equipment, and supplies were available and that these supplies were being monitored weekly. Standardised education of staff to care for sicker babies was needed. The Guyana Neonatal Network has established ongoing monthly Neonatal CME sessions for all staff working in the regions. Additionally, hands-on workshops were conducted in New Amsterdam and Lethem focusing on neonatal resuscitation skills training.
Furthermore, nurse instructors from Regions Two, Three, Four, Six and Nine were trained in a Comprehensive Neonatal Care Course with the plan that these nurses will now train others in their respective centres. Biomedical support for the maintenance of equipment was also established through the Ministry of Health.
Team at WDRH- NICU, led by Dr Naitram Singh (Paediatrician & Neonatologist) along with Dr Dollette Moffatt (Paediatrician)
Physicians in these centres have the support of the neonatal team from GPHC, where advice can be sought for challenging cases. Case discussions have also occurred with our partners in the Guyana Neonatal Network allowing physicians to feel supported as they continue to elevate neonatal care in all Regions of Guyana. This programme is being complemented by two grants from our Canadian partners. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Global Affairs Canada.
Bartica’s NICU Team, led by Dr Alejandro Cruz (Paediatrician)
As a result of these interventions, all centres have been able to successfully provide care for babies requiring breathing support with a ventilator or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. Such that many babies can now be successfully cared for in these regional centres without the need to transfer to GPHC. There has been a corresponding significant decline in transfers to GPHC in 2024 when compared to 2023. Allowing families to be able to stay closer to home while their babies receive expert care.
The Neonatal Network is led by Dr Anna Florendo-Chin who works as the Director of the Guyana Neonatal Network. She is a dedicated neonatologist, who provides daily guidance to network members, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every baby born in Guyana receives optimal healthcare. Her efforts focus on establishing a sustainable neonatal network nationwide, significantly improving neonatal outcomes.
The Guyana Neonatal Network continues to work hard to provide, and continue to improve Neonatal Care throughout the country with plans to expand to other centres soon. Today as we celebrate World Prematurity Day, we would like to take the opportunity to celebrate our smallest fighters, the neonates who need intensive care, their parents and families who endure the struggle with them; acknowledge the work of our healthcare workers around Guyana who care for these precious babies, thank the supporting teams who aid the healthcare team and also honour our babies we may have lost along the way.
Although most births result in well newborn babies, about 10-15 per cent of all babies require some level of intensive care. This neonatal intensive care can include care for breathing problems, infections, metabolic issues, and so on. The highest level of neonatal intensive care, sometimes designated as Level III care, is rarely needed and is usually centralised in most countries. The Level III neonatal intensive care unit in Guyana is located at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). However, most women deliver their babies closer to home, and therefore neonatal intensive care must be available for those babies and thus the Guyana Neonatal Network was formed.
