PAHO donates immunisation, maternal healthcare equipment to MoH

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) on Wednesday handed over 44 pieces of equipment to the Health Ministry to advance its Maternal, Adolescent and Neonatal Health and Immunisation Programme.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony received the Global Affairs Canada-funded equipment from PAHO Representative Dr. Luis Codina during a simple ceremony at the Central Supply Unit (CSU Bond) in Kingston, Georgetown.
The items include LED examination lamps, gynaecological beds, foetal dopplers, solar-powered vaccine refrigerators, and portable ultrasound machines.
Dr Anthony expressed his appreciation to PAHO and the Canadian Government for their commitment towards improving healthcare across Guyana through their donations.
“We’ve been constantly trying to upgrade our cold chain storage to make sure that we can store vaccines adequately at the level of the health centres,” Dr Anthony said. “Several of the health centres in the rural areas in the interior of Guyana do not have electricity, so the only way we can have these refrigerators work is to make sure they are solar,” he explained.
The Minister added that PAHO has been working with the Ministry for several years to provide solar refrigerators for these hinterland communities.
Dr. Anthony also expressed gratitude for the donation of equipment related to improving the delivery of maternal healthcare.
“We want to ensure that we have the right equipment out in the community, so that we can make better diagnose and be able to ensure that, if we discover a problematic pregnancy, that we can take the necessary precautions so that that mother would be safe,” he explained.
“The ultrasound [machines] that we have here, the dopplers and other pieces of equipment, will certainly help us to provide a better quality of maternal care,” the Minister added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Codina expanded on PAHO’s commitment to aiding the Health Ministry to better serve patients seeking maternal healthcare, particularly adolescent girls in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
“The work that the Ministry is doing in these regions, related to adolescent health, especially for girls, [is commendable]. Supporting them, facilitating their access to health services, and also empowering them to be much more aware of their decisions in their day-to-day lives,” he added.
“With all this work, plus the equipment, we are thinking that the health services will be reinforced to give better care to these groups of populations, specifically adolescent girls and women,” he added.
Also in attendance at this handing-over ceremony were Maternal and Child Health Officer Dr Oneka Scott, Women’s Health Coordinator Dr Maneke Williams, and Medex Andrea Budburgh and other staff from the Health Ministry and PAHO.
PAHO and the Health Ministry have had a longstanding partnership. This equipment handover just reinforced their dedication to improving healthcare in Guyana.