President pushes for improved community health care services

…as inaugural Health Expo opens

President David Granger is calling for a healthcare system that seeks to provide improved services at not only the tertiary level but at the community level as well through the establishment of health centres in every community.
The Head of State made this remark on Wednesday as he declared the inaugural Health Expo opened at the Sophia Exhibition Centre. The exhibition is being hosted by the Public Health Ministry under the theme: “Reaching for a better life with good health”, and runs until June 2.
The President maintained that the Health Ministry’s mandate included ensuing citizens’ mental, physical and social health by promoting health services when and wherever they are accessible, acceptable ,and affordable. To this end, he charged that health centres be established in every community throughout the country so that Guyanese benefit optimally from this basic public service.
“We must create a system of neighbourhood health centres, which are the main and primary providers of public health services within communities, and these

neighbourhoods and the neighbourhood health centres are to be accessible to all citizens everywhere in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. They must guarantee citizens access to public health care, especially the provision of primary health care (services),” he stated.
According to President Granger, Government operates at three strata – the national level, the regional or administration level and at the municipal or neighbourhood level – and the healthcare system should also be moulded in this model. He noted that the overall objective of his Administration was to provide healthcare services – at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels – which are accessible, reliable, affordable and inclusive to the Guyanese citizenry.
On this note, President Granger posited that Government’s plans to have a capital town in each of the administrative regions would seek to build on and enhance core public services such as health care at the community level.
“At the neighbourhood level, no citizens of Guyana, in the fullness of time, should have to travel more than five kilometres in any direction to receive primary health care.
Every neighbourhood must have a neighbourhood health centre, so that even the poorest citizens should be able to access health care within his or her neighbourhood,” the Head of State asserted.
While the President spoke of improved public services to foster health care, he noted that the first step to health care is prevention, which he said starts at home.
“Preventative care is central to universal public health coverage, to primary health care and the delivery of public health services. No public health system and no national health strategy would be complete or successful without emphasising the importance of preventative care,” he opined.
According to the President, prevention is central to Guyana’s national health strategy and among other things, one of the principal means of improving citizens’

physical, mental and social wellbeing.
The inaugural expo is an inter-ministerial and multi-sectoral event, and will also focus on developing synergies between the Ministry and healthcare providers as well as the public. It seeks to sensitise the public on health-conscious practices that will prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), while enlightening the public on the plethora of services that are available within the public healthcare system.
Addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence said that Guyanese often turned to the healthcare system as a last resort only after the “home remedies” and pharmacy recommendations do not work, and this, she posited, was often detrimental to the patients.
“Guyana can ill-afford an unhealthy nation… We must change the way in which we embrace and manage our health… [and] through this expo, we wish to bring you and your health into sharp focus. We want to move from the almost laissez-faire attitude to the point where it becomes our priority,” she posited.
According to the Public Health Minister, such renewed attitude will play a pivotal role in curbing the high rate of NCDs in the country, which in turn will put Guyana on track to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number three, that is, “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.”
On this note, Minister Lawrence proudly noted that President Granger was the only Head of State in the Caribbean heading a Presidential Commission on NDCs. She also announced that in recognition of its commitment against tobacco use, Guyana has been conferred with the ‘World No Tobacco Day Award’ by the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) for countries in the region of Americas. (Vahnu Manikchand)Every neighbourhood must have a neighbourhood health centre so that even the poorest citizens should be able to access health care within him or her neighbourhood,” the Head of State asserted.
While the Head of State spoke of improved public services to foster healthcare, he noted that the first step to healthcare is prevention, which he said starts at home.
“Preventative care is central to universal public health coverage, to primary healthcare and the delivery of public health services. No Public Health System and no National Health Strategy would be complete or successful without emphasizing the importance of preventative care,” he opined.
According to the President, prevention is central to Guyana’s national health strategy and among other things, one of the principle means of improving citizens’ physical, mental and social wellbeing.
The inaugural expo is an inter-ministerial and multi-sectorial event and will also focus on developing synergies between the ministry and healthcare providers as well as the public. It seeks to sensitive the public on health-conscious practices that will prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), while enlighten the public on the plethora of services that are available within the public healthcare system.
Addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence said that Guyanese often turn to the healthcare system as a last resort only after the “home remedies” and pharmacy recommendations do not work, and this she posited is often detrimental to the patients.
“Guyana can ill-afford an unhealthy nation… We must change the way in which we embrace and manage our health… [and] through this expo, we wish to bring you and your health into sharp focus. We want to move from the almost laissez-faire attitude to the point where it becomes our priority,” she posited.
According to the Public Health Minister, such renewed attitude will play a pivotal role in curbing the high rate of NCDs in the country, which in turn will put Guyana on track to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number three, that is, “Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.”
On this note, Minister Lawrence proudly noted that President Granger is the only Head of State in the Caribbean who is heading a Presidential Commission on NDC. She also announced that in recognition of its commitment against tobacco use, Guyana has been conferred with the ‘World No Tobacco Day Award’ by the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) for countries in the region of Americas. (Vahnu Manikchand)