— following measles outbreak in neighbouring state

GUYANA is monitoring communities bordering neighbouring Venezuela following a Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), World Health Organisation (WHO) alert of an outbreak of measles in the Bolivarian Republic.

PAHO/ WHO has alerted states of the risk of outbreak occurring from reported measles cases there and according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, “Guyana assures a high level of surveillance and (will) adopt adequate vaccination measures to prevent the spread of the virus.”

Guyana’s surveillance comes shortly after reports have surfaced of hundreds of Venezuelans entering Guyana to seek medical attention for malaria.

Harmon told reporters during his post-Cabinet press briefing held at the Ministry of Public Service, Waterloo Street, Georgetown that approximately 368 Venezuelans of about 1000 have sought and received treatment in Region One.
The minister of state said too that Guyana will, as part of its humanitarian effort, continue to support Venezuelans in need of medical care.

“We feel that is part of our international humanitarian effort and Cabinet advised the Ministry of Health to ensure that assistance is provided to all persons, be it Venezuelans or Guyanese living in Venezuela, who report to the medical facility for help, as this is a humanitarian issue of which we are very happy to be a part of,” he stated.

Asked whether there is a waiver on entry requirements given the current circumstances, Harmon said there is an established protocol at the points of entry and requires that the persons identify themselves and the reasons for entering Guyana.

They are given a short period of time where they can seek medical care and then return.

“There are some persons who are actually Guyanese living in Venezuela, and for those persons who are returning the same would not apply because they are Guyanese. But for Venezuelans we have extended our humanitarian hands because they are human beings and the fact that we are part of international convention and treaties which require us to deal with persons affected at our borders in a humane way, we are actually confirming to those treaties,” the minister of state added.

Venezuela has been gripped by economic and political turmoil which has resulted in the country’s inflation rate being over 400 per cent and a volatile exchange rate.

The country’s economic and political crisis has also resulted in severe food and medicine shortage.

Citizens have since taken to the streets to protest and many have died.