Health Ministry gets international collaboration against stigma, discrimination
THE Ministry of Health, the National Care and Treatment Centre (NCTC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention Project (GHARP) have agreed to collaborate against stigma and discrimination. Towards that objective, a joint code of ethics was unveiled at the NCTC, on Tuesday, when the ministry said it has recognised the impact stigma and discrimination have on reducing access to prevention, care and treatment services and, as such, every effort will be made to eliminate them.
Among the aims of the policy are to protect clients and  most at-risk population from the effects of discrimination when accessing health services and to promote health-care providers education and sensitisation on the issues of stigma and discrimination at treatment care facilities.
“We are health care providers. We provide these services to our citizens or even non-residents. We should not deny anyone because they are entitled to these services regardless of their status,” Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said on the occasion.
He told the gathering:“If you go to any of our health centres, you would notice that you don’t have to produce any insurance card or any such documents. This is a manifestation that every person is entitled to our health services.”
Ramsammy acknowledged that, sometimes, people are deprived of these services because of the negligence of health-care workers who fail to carry out their mandates. However, efforts are being made to iron out these issues.
“As health-care workers, it is not our responsibility to pronounce on moral issues or make a moral judgment of anyone. However, we have the responsibility to provide moral services if ever required,” the minster remarked.
He explained that there could be several different reasons why a person has a specific status and no health-care worker should question citizens before they receive services.
“We in the health-care sector will not bury our heads in the sand and say that it does not happen. These things do happen. We stigmatise but what we will do is say that we will work towards betterment,” Ramsammy pledged.
The minister alluded to the fact that this policy will be supported by the laws of Guyana which, clearly, state that health care should be accessible to all.
“Today, we have taken another step in the elimination of stigma and discrimination and more will be done in the near future,” he promised.
Ramsammy said a plaque will be placed in every health clinic around the country and must be visible to remind health-care workers what their mandates are and to make persons aware of their rights.
DIFFERENCE
He insisted that this is a step which will make a difference for Guyana, as every private health centre would also have to comply with these policies and it will determine their existence in the country.
“These policies will now become part of all the training in the health sector, even at the university level,” Ramsammy announced.
He said Guyana has come a long way, as it relates to eliminating stigma and discrimination and this accomplishment should be celebrated, given that the country has proven that there is no jeopardy in eliminating this issue.
“Since we have proven to ourselves what we can accomplish and came this far, it is unacceptable for us to not want to eliminate the entire thing,” Ramsammy encouraged.
He said Guyana’s goal for the 21st century should be to be bold and tackle this issue to make us a better country.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Olufemi Oweye, Chief of Party, GHARP II, said he believes that “the reality of stigma and discrimination being at the very root of the barriers to health access for the neediest population of any country is now a truism”
He said central to the public health response of any disease is the reduction, or, if possible, complete elimination of stigma and discrimination.
“We are all frontline public health stakeholders and, as such, we have certain expectations of the general population where health-related behaviours are concerned. However, we are, sometimes, too busy telling others what to do that we forget our own personal responsibility,” Oweye noted.
He said the NCTC deserves special kudos for blazing a trail in championing stigma reduction also in the health-care setting.
Oweye mentioned that, while the USAID-funded GHARP II colleagues have worked hard to make it a reality, this project could not have been successful without the funding from USAID.
He complimented the Ministry of Health and the minister, in particular, for the efforts which resulted in Guyana now having this policy.
Another speaker at the forum was peer supervisor attached to Artistes in Direct Support, Mr. Colin Blaize, who said he believes the initiative is a good move by the ministry.
CHALLENGE
“This will be a challenge but it will be rewarded outstandingly. With this policy in mind. I think that we will have a more understanding population and behaviour,” he said, stating: “And we welcome both with open arms.”
USAID Mission Director, Ms. Carol Horning, revealed that Guyana is the first country, of which she is aware, that has made this policy such a significant feature.
She complimented this country for taking such a leading step in the elimination of stigma and discrimination, agreeing that it is a big move for the nation.
A commemorative plaque was handed over to the NCTC to mark the significant day on which the ministry also committed itself to creating an environment that is free from prejudice, regardless of the age, creed, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation of those seeking services.
The Guyana Presidential Commission report on progress towards universal access found that there was a lack of understanding of issues regarding sexual orientation, giving rise to stigma and discrimination within the health-care setting.