– as Guyana celebrates World Health Day

DESPITE great advancements in local healthcare, there is still an inequitable distribution of services, said Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), World Health Organisation (WHO) Resident Representative, Dr William Adu-Krow.

Guyana joined millions of people across the world in celebration of World Health Day 2018 on Saturday, under the theme: “Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere,” which was carefully interpreted by Dr Adu-Krow during his address to the gathering at the launch of a massive health fair at D’Urban Park.

With reference to the theme, he explained that universal health care means that all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. It includes the full spectrum of essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.
“The inequity is usually captured by the population that lives out of the city; everyone should have access to quality health services without facing financial hardship,” said the representative.

A WHO study discovered that at least half of the world’s population still does not have full coverage of essential health services. The study also showed that over 800 million people, almost 12 per cent of the world’s population, spent at least 10 per cent of their household budgets to pay for health care.
Since the discovery of those facts, all United Nations (UN) member states have agreed to try to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr Adu-Krow believes that access to quality healthcare and financial protection not only improves the health of the population, but also protects the country from an epidemic and drives economic growth and gender equality among other things.
In that regard, he lauded the Government of Guyana for making great strides along those lines, by introducing universal health care. He noted that there is access to health services in almost every part of the country.

“There are still some challenges, such as maintaining the coverage to meet expectations; ensuring that there is a full expanse of quality care because there is no point in making it available but there is no quality,” he advised, informing medical professionals and policy- makers that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to providing universal healthcare.
Dr Adu-Krow said Guyana has been charting its own way to a successful health sector, but he suggested that there needs to be a shift from designing healthcare services with the focus on the actual services, to a focus on the people whom it should benefit.
When the focus is shifted, it will ensure that there is health wellness care which is important, because other countries are preparing systems that are geared towards wellness.

UN Resident Coordinator, Mikiko Tanaka, expressed similar sentiments, noting that the UN is committed to taking steps to advance healthcare.
Guyana has not been left out of those steps to advancement, said Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, adding that the government has been focusing on health and wellness to ensure that everyone enjoys the good life.

“We are working in partnership with PAHO/WHO to issue a wake-up call to Guyanese, by calling on everyone to take actions to raise awareness and commit to a sounder health practice, that will result in a better quality of life,” she said.
She expressed the ministry’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare services that are geared at promoting health and wellness.

“We will be establishing wellness centres where persons can go and engage in exercise and so on…we want to make people comfortable, so we will set up centres within communities and not at a health centre in particular…The NGOs and partners should join with us to increase awareness of health and well-being,” she explained.
Although the centres will soon be there, Lawrence still stressed the importance of utilising the primary healthcare facilities that are equipped with doctors and other medical professionals.

In addition, the minister said the ministry is committed to upgrading the existing facilities to offer more services.
Some of the services that are usually offered by the local healthcare institutions were offered at the health fair.

Thousands turned out to get their blood pressure or blood sugar tested, or to receive dental and eye care services. There was also a live cross-fit display.