Rehab week: Health Minister pledges focus on preventing complications, lowering rehab needs

The Health Ministry officially launched Rehabilitation Week 2025 with the unveiling of a range of new tools and expanded services intended to modernise and enhance rehabilitation care across Guyana. The launch ceremony was held last Friday at the Ministry’s Boardroom and was led by the Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.

During his address, Anthony introduced three major resources aimed at transforming the delivery and scope of rehabilitation services nationwide.
The Guyana Rehab App: A comprehensive mobile platform offering personalised exercise plans, progress tracking, appointment booking, and easy access to nationwide rehabilitation services.
The Stroke Handbook: A user-friendly guide to help patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers identify early signs of stroke, manage recovery, and support reintegration into daily life.
The Amputee Handbook: Guyana’s first national resource for individuals living with limb loss, providing step-by-step guidance from pre-operative care to long-term prosthetic use and rehabilitation.
These initiatives form part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to enhance the accessibility, consistency, and effectiveness of rehabilitation services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved communities.
“If we manage this as a continuum, we can address the root causes and prevent more people from needing rehabilitation in the first place,” Dr Anthony stated. He emphasised the strong connection between chronic disease management and rehabilitation needs, underscoring the Government’s commitment to reducing complications from diabetes, hypertension, and stroke.
The Minister also highlighted efforts to improve access to assistive devices, revealing that the Ministry distributed nearly 1,000 wheelchairs last year and has procured 3,000 more to be provided free of cost in 2025.
Meanwhile, Director of Rehabilitation and Disability Services, Dr Ariana Mangar, described rehabilitation as an essential pillar of Guyana’s evolving healthcare system. She noted that the sector is undergoing significant transformation through digital innovation, expanded service delivery, and a focus on patient empowerment and quality care.