US, Guyana launch medical mission to strengthen healthcare services

The United States (US) and Guyana are set to launch the 2026 Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Teams (LAMAT) mission, a health security cooperation engagement designed to strengthen partnerships, enhance medical readiness, and improve access to care across the Caribbean.
The mission will take place from March 16 to 27 at Ministry of Health-designated facilities across the country. During this period, US military medical professionals will work alongside Guyanese health care providers to deliver patient care, conduct medical knowledge exchanges and collaborate on best practices aimed at strengthening readiness and interoperability.

“LAMAT is about building enduring relationships that outlast any single mission,” Command Surgeon for Air Forces Southern, Col Brian Gavitt, stated. “By collaborating closely with our Guyanese partners, we’re strengthening our interoperability, sharing knowledge and reinforcing the trust that allows us to work together effectively in times of need. As Guyana marks its 60th anniversary, it’s an especially fitting moment to stand together and invest in a partnership focused on readiness, resilience and the health of our communities.”
Led by US Air Forces Southern, LAMAT 2026 underscores the enduring US commitment to its partners in the Caribbean and Latin America, supporting collaborative approaches to humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The Guyana engagement will focus on key medical areas including general surgery, primary care, dentistry, optometry, emergency medicine and preventive health services.
In addition to patient care, the mission will emphasise professional exchanges designed to strengthen long-term medical capacity and regional resilience. The LAMAT 2026 mission in Guyana will conclude with a closing ceremony on March 27, highlighting the accomplishments of the engagement and reinforcing the strength of the US–Guyana partnership. Guyana is the second of four host nations in the eight-week regional campaign, with follow-on stops in Suriname and Saint Lucia.