THE Ministry of Health is working on a new strategic plan—VISION20/20—that will serve as a guide to take the health sector forward in its quest to provide quality health services.

Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health, Leslie Cadogan, made this disclosure while delivering the feature address at the recent graduation ceremony of 36 Community Health Workers (CHWs) in the boardroom of the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
Included in the plan, he noted,  is a package of publicly guaranteed health services. The plan will be supported by continued investment in new health facilities and the upgrading of several existing ones; and to support this expansion, the ministry will continue to invest in the training of doctors, nurses and other  categories of  allied health professionals.
Further, he stated, VISION 20/20 will help to continue the modernisation of the health sector, thereby making a significant contribution to Guyana’s development.

Training of CHWs
Turning his attention to the CHWs, the PS noted that throughout the years, upwards of 300 CHWs have been trained and deployed in all 10 administrative regions. The training of CHWs, he added, has contributed significantly to expanded health care services in hard-to-reach areas in Guyana and specifically, has led to great strides in improving infant and maternal health and the overall health of rural communities.
In  congratulating  the new CHWs, Permanent Secretary Cadogan also declared  zero tolerance for disrespect by any CHW to members of the public.
Remarks were also delivered by Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples in the Department of Regional Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Michael Gouveia.  Gouveia told the graduands that they must not see their graduation as the end, since it is important that they go on to higher learning.
He informed them that they now have a serious commitment to their communities and by extension, to the Guyanese people. He also cautioned them against thinking that they have to “re-invent the wheel” or start afresh when they return to their respective communities. Instead, he encouraged them to build on whatever already exists in their communities.
Finally, the charge to the graduands was delivered by Director (ag) of the Division of Health Science Education, Wilton Benn, who urged them to read in order to continue learning and to share whatever they learn.   He however warned them against behaving as if they know it all when dealing with members of their respective communities –  instead, they should place themselves in positions to learn from their communities  where much traditional wisdom often resides.
CHWs work at health posts and in health centres and are trained in Basic Anatomy and Physiology; Maternal and Child Health;  First Aid; Clinical Procedures; Nutrition; and Personal Hygiene/Environmental Health.