Peace Corps volunteers to aid in nursery school health screenings – Health Minister

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday called on the 36th cohort of the United States (US) Peace Corps volunteers to play a vital role in early childhood healthcare by assisting with the screening of pupils before they enter nursery school.
On Wednesday, Guyana welcomed the 36th cohort of Peace Corps volunteers, which marked another step in the long-standing partnership between the country and the US aimed at deepening community development, education support, and cultural exchange across all regions.
The volunteers, who come from diverse backgrounds and professional disciplines, will be deployed to various communities throughout Guyana to support initiatives in education, health, youth empowerment, and capacity building. Many of them will live and work in remote and underserved areas, helping to bridge gaps and support sustainable local development.
According to Dr Anthony, this partnership with the US Government has brought not only human resources to Guyana but also the sharing of equipment and knowledge across various fields, especially to aid in the screening of pupils.
“Our aim is that every child entering nursery school should be screened before they go into nursery school. And when they leave nursery to go into primary school, they should be screened again. And when they leave primary to enter secondary school, they should be screened again. We have a menu of age-appropriate measures that we are using to screen them,” the Minister explained.
He continued, “The volunteers who would be working between health and education – I think this would be a very meaningful programme for you to support. We have lots of children that we want to screen. And if we find any issues, we want to bring them into the medical system so we can respond appropriately.”
Another key area identified for volunteer support is the elimination of infectious diseases, which Dr Anthony noted would benefit greatly from the involvement of the Peace Corps.
“If you want to get involved in those areas, we are willing to have you work there as well. One of the exciting things we’re doing is working to eliminate certain infectious diseases from Guyana. For example, lymphatic filariasis has been with us for more than two centuries – probably longer – but we are now on the verge of eliminating this disease.”
Meanwhile, Dr Anthony noted that Peace Corps members will be a valuable asset in hinterland regions, particularly in the assistance of preserving local Indigenous languages, where there is a shortage of personnel.
“For those of you serving in the interior, we also have nine Amerindian languages, and some of these are endangered. According to UNESCO standards, only 2000 to 4000 people are fluent in some of these languages. We are working to preserve them.”
He explained that volunteers will have an opportunity to interact with native speakers, potentially learn some of the language, and immerse themselves in the rich cultural diversity of Guyana’s interior.
“There’s so much you can learn from the people who live there – they are true guardians of our interior forests. The traditional knowledge they can pass on is truly remarkable,. Dr Anthony stressed.
“If you want to learn more about that, the opportunities are there. But overall, there is so much to learn from this experience. I hope you enjoy every moment of it, and when you return to the United States, you take some of this with you,” he concluded.
The Peace Corps volunteers will be deployed to various communities throughout Guyana to support initiatives in education, health, youth empowerment, and capacity building.