THE National Public Health Institute (NPHI) has the concentrated capacity for both laboratory services and comprehensive clinical care under one roof. The institute marked its first anniversary on Friday with officials of the Guyana and United States’ Governments lauding the work being done there.

The institute has improved healthcare in the area of clinical laboratory testing and specialised reference testing through a joint effort between the Government and the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, with funding from the U.S. Government under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

A section of the gathering at the 1st Anniversary Reception of the National Public Health Institute

National Care and Treatment Centre Director, Dr. Jadunauth Raghunauth, explained that the previous building was crowded and clustered and as such staff are now housed in a more comfortable environment.

He pointed out that the Institute continues to offer the same services but in a more efficient manner, based on evaluation and feedback.

Dr. Colin Roach, the institute’s Director said the idea of a laboratory of such a concept was long planned. The laboratory serves as the nucleus of national laboratory services; it has the capacity to conduct quality assurance and proficiency testing in the peripheral labs and serves as a reference for hematology chemistry, parasitological, microbiology and molecular biology.

The facility is advanced in its technology with equipment and the capacity to store specimens long -term.

He stated that it is the dream that one day the NPHI will be accredited and certified to international standard.

The HPHI has a staff complement of 29 and seven departments for various activities. He said the HPHI strives to disseminate accurate findings and to produce them in a timely and efficient manner.

Country Director of the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. La Mar Hasbrouck, in his remarks said “progress has been steady because every time we (collectively) ran into an obstacle, challenge, or bottle neck, a champion would emerge (NAPS, HSDU, PS, CDC, and others)… and with the clearing of every successive hurdle, we have built a solid foundation on which to grow.”

He noted that “no matter how audacious the vision; no matter how impressive the structure; or how advanced the equipment; it is the people power that makes it all happen.”

Charge’d Affaires of the U.S. Embassy Karen Williams, said the NPHI is more than just a lab, it is a powerful test of the relationship between the U.S. and Guyana and it was funded to create a model health care facility in the Caribbean.

She pointed out that the benefits come from the tools and the fact that samples no longer have to be sent overseas for testing.

The 1500 square metre structure, which was built at a cost of US$4.4 M, is located in the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation at Thomas and New Market Streets and houses two components; the National Public Health Reference Laboratory and the Comprehensive Care and Treatment Centre, formerly known as the Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic.