AS THE Ministry of Public Health strives to ensure that the quality of public health offered in all areas of the health sector is of the best quality, a stakeholders meeting was convened on Tuesday at Grand Coastal Hotel Conference Room, to discuss a strategic way forward in offering quality health care to the elderly in Guyana.This stakeholders meeting allowed the Ministry to garner pertinent views from a number of stakeholder organisations on the most efficient and effective ways to provide excellent, accessible, yet caring health services to the elderly in Guyana, the ministry said in a release. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, underscored the commitment of the Ministry of Public Health in providing holistic health care to all Guyanese including the elderly. Noting that the elderly population in Guyana has grown over the years and will continue to grow, Dr. Persaud mentioned the need to plan strategically to ensure that adequate provisions are made for the equitable delivery of health care to the elderly.

PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. Jean Semefils Alexandre alluded to the rising elderly population globally, and stated that it is important that Guyana puts measures in place to adequately cater to the heath care needs of the elderly. “It is absolutely imperative that all agencies and organizations plan and develop effective programmes to deal with the rapidly expanding aging population. Part of the PAHO/WHO work plan includes activities aimed at achieving maximum health for the elderly population. We are pleased to observe that the Ministry of Public Health has established a focal unit to deal specifically with elderly health care. PAHO/WHO will continue to support the Ministry of Public Health in its strategies for the elderly population in Guyana,” Dr. Alexandre said.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings emphasised the goal of the Ministry in providing the best quality health care possible in Guyana to all Guyanese. She noted that the elderly, like any other group, are being provided for in the strategic plans of the Ministry of Public Health as it continues to reform and enhance its healthcare delivery services.
The minister pointed out that in order to deliver tangible best quality health care to the elderly, there must be trained staff to be able to do so competently. “Health care of the elderly is integrated within the elements of primary health care in Guyana. However, I do believe we need to address strategically the provision of appropriate means and facilities of enhancing the training to health care workers operating in the health centers so that they can deal competently, efficiently, and compassionately with the elderly,” the Minister said.

Minister Cummings also mentioned that as the Ministry of Public Health strives to bolster its elderly health care services, better efficiency will be derived in identifying health risks and detecting diseases earlier. “Timely intervention and prevention of complications, in a multi-disciplinary approach under best quality primary care settings will be the result of establishing best practices in elderly health care services,” the Minister said. Representatives at the stakeholder meeting came from the Ministry of Social Protection, Ministry of Indigenous People, Salvation Army, Dharm Shala, Palms, Archer’s Home, Anglican Diocese of Guyana, and Rastafarian Council, among others. The Ministry of Public Health through its Director of Women’s and Elderly Health Unit, Dr. Melissa DeHaarte, wishes to thank all those who participated in this stakeholder meeting, and anxiously looks forward to your continuous support.