THE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, on Monday declared open a two-day multi-sectoral task force workshop during which the revised Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) project was launched.Held at the Cara Lodge in Quamina Street, Georgetown, the project was launched by Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, and the FAO Representative in Guyana, Reuben Robertson.

Chairperson of the proceedings was Dr Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Public Health.

This second Food-Based Dietary Guidelines multi-sectoral task force workshop sought to present the findings of a recent evaluation of the existing FBDGs for Guyana, and to engage key stakeholders in identifying and determining priority issues to be addressed through the revision of these guidelines.

At the opening session, FAO Regional Consultant, Dr Pauline Samuda, gave a brief overview of the FBDG revision exercise, a workshop overview, and stated the objectives/expected outcomes of the workshop.

Other areas explored on day one included: Eating patterns among Guyanese, and findings from the evaluation of the existing FBDGs.

Wednesday’s session addressed, among other things: Trade agreements/imports and legislation for Guyana – implications and proposed strategies.

The workshop sought to present the health and nutrition situation of Guyana; to present the findings from the evaluation of the existing Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBGs); to determine priority issues to be addressed through the revision of the FBDGs; and to establish a national FBDG Task Force.