–evaluates gains, challenges of local programme
GUYANA joined the rest of the world in observing World TB Day 2012 yesterday, with the unfolding of a series of activities planned not just to coincide with the observance, but to last until the end of the month. In Georgetown, headquarters of the National TB Programme, World TB Day began with a stakeholder launch at the Central TB Office, located in the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), on Wednesday evening. Among those officiating were Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran; Programme Manager of the National TB Programme, Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall; and Advisor on Family Community Health and HIV (of PAHO) Dr. Rosalinda Hernandez.
Highlights of yesterday’s city activities included a Health Walk, with participants trekking four laps around the National Park.

Celebrating World TB Day at Courts and at the National Park

This activity attracted a modest but keenly enthusiastic band of health officials and advocates, including trade unionists and other stakeholders. It kicked off at 07:00hrs from the Albert and Thomas Road Entrance to the Park.
Participants later met briefly for sober reflection on the gains and challenges of the local programme, after which athletic sporting activities were held in the Park.
The programme turned out to be a welcome ‘unwinding’ for participants, most of whom are hardworking healthcare providers engaged around-the-clock on average.
Medical Officer, Dr. Linda D’Oliveira was adjudged ‘fastest sprinter’ at that event.
Simultaneously, another TB desk was on display at the COURTS Furniture Inc Main Street office, with CCWU (Clerical and Commercial Workers Union) Field Secretary, Sherwood Clarke, interacting with customers and distributing information and education literature.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of World TB Day, thousands of Guyanese and other readers benefited from absolutely essential and lifesaving information offered free of charge by way of an attractively designed and colourfully displayed ‘TB Supplement’ in each of the daily newspapers, compliments of the National Tuberculosis Programme of the Ministry of Health and its sponsors.
Contents of the supplement included a Message from the Programme Manager of the NTB Programme, Dr. Jeetendra Mohanlall; Tuberculosis Facts; The DOTS Programme; How to become involved in the fight against TB; Information on HIV/TB Co-infection; the Georgetown Chest Clinic; and a listing of the 18 TB testing sites in Guyana.
Other activities on the card include joint TB activities with organisations such as trade unions, the Red Cross, and certain NGOs, slated for later this week; as well as visits to Region One, where the Programme Manager and other key officials will participate in programmes being staged by the stakeholders involving community participation in the region.