A cocktail reception was held at the Georgetown Marriot Hotel on behalf Director of the Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) who has been on a four-day visit to Guyana, from February 5-8. The primary focus during her visit, which ends today, was on Non-Communicable
Director of the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation, Dr Carissa Etienne was on a four-day visit to Guyana from February 5-8
Diseases (NCDs). PAHO/WHO’s Director, Dr Carissa Etienne, was slated to meet with a number of local and international bodies, including sister agencies of the United Nations (UN) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
On the agenda was the reconstituting and re-launching of the National Non-Communicable Diseases Commission. It was explained that NCDs account for more than 70 per cent of deaths in Guyana.
Speaking at the cocktail reception, Dr Etienne explained that she has had discussions with several of Guyana’s Government Ministers, to chart the way forward regarding PAHO/WHO’s role in Guyana.
“I am here because the work of PAHO is at the country level,” she noted.
The visiting official stressed that it is at this level that lives can be touched, while she noted that Government officials can be engaged.
“The sustainable development agenda has set the tone whereby we must recommit to ‘leaving no one behind’ so we could focus on all of those who we have not yet reached,” she added. Meanwhile, acting President Moses Nagamootoo, while underscoring the importance of international assistance, told the gathering that PAHO/WHO was instrumental in shaping several Government policies. The acting President thanked the visiting official for her contribution to the international body.
“The Government of Guyana is very thankful and appreciative of your service and we hope that your visit serves as a catalyst for strengthening the efforts of PAHO in Guyana,” Nagamootoo noted.
UN Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Guyana, Mikiko Tanaka, in giving brief remarks, explained that the various agencies of the UN have collaborated to better the lives of Guyanese but cautioned that more is needed. “We must continue to be agents of change in all our areas of expertise, while cooperating in areas that bind us. We will promote and support unity in Guyana’s rich diversity through universal values of peace, justice, human dignity, tolerance and solidarity,” the diplomat noted.
The National Non-Communicable Diseases Commission was launched in 2014 by then President Donald Ramotar, with the main goal of coordinating a multistakeholder response to the epidemic of NCDs in Guyana. Some key areas addressed were tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy eating and a lack of physical exercise, among other related issues.
