…Min. Cummings tells house of robust anti TB programme
…establishment of school of tropical medicine

THE allocation to the public health sector will allow for the establishment of a school of tropical medicine; the piloting of projects to combat tuberculosis and continued health provision to the country’s hinterland regions.

This is according to Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings, who defended the $35.9B allocated to the health sector on Monday during the budget debates in the National Assembly.

Dr. Cummings noted that the allocation represents some 11.9 per cent of total Budget and a 2.6B increase from the previous. Managed wisely, Dr. Cummings said that the sum will lead to greater population coverage and enhanced service delivery of public healthcare to all Guyanese.

School of tropical medicine
She announced that soon the Public Health Ministry will collaborate with the University of Guyana (UG) to establish a school of tropical medicine. This, she explained, will complement the work of the National Reference Laboratory which continues to test for Zika and other re-emerging tropical diseases without the need to send these tests overseas at huge costs.

Added to this, Budget 2019 will allow for the piloting of a microbiology lab with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to adequately detect, treat and monitor the multidrug resistant strains of tuberculosis, the minister told the House.
This is expected to be managed by the ministry’s Disease Control Department while the budget will also allow for the revitalising of the Direct Observe Therapy (the DOTs programme).

Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health intends to tackle the antimicrobial resistance threat through enhanced public awareness, antibiotic conservation, and increased surveillance.
In representing the cause, Cummings said: “The global and local threat of antimicrobial resistance, which is the ability of infectious organisms including bacteria to survive the agents designed to kill them and save patients from infection is real and can no longer be ignored.”

2019 will also see the continuance of hinterland patients diagnosed with life-threatening conditions emergency evacuated for the required treatment, with some 271 patients already benefitting from such in 2018.
“As 2018 comes to a close, there is an increase in early diagnoses of high risk conditions of patients within the hinterland regions. This increase is being buttressed by more timely referrals,” the minister began, “Hinterland health systems are being upgraded to provide all the secondary care needed, which will ultimately see the significant reduction in referrals in the near future.”

For additional upgrades in the coming year, 3.2B has been allocated for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of public health infrastructure across Guyana. Dr. Cummings reminded the House of the government’s ongoing improvements to the Baramita Health Facility and the completed works at the Shulinab Health Post; Lethem Hospital laboratory; Bartica District Hospital and Lethem District Hospital.

To better transport staff, patients and supplies to and from these hard-to-reach areas, the government also provided six all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to Regions One, Eight and Nine.
Meanwhile, forging ahead with the ‘behaviour change pathway approach’ the Ministry of Health hopes to tackle, too, the prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NDCs) by promoting lifestyle changes for improved results.

Great efforts will therefore be placed on encouraging persons to screen and monitor for diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, while geographical areas for addressing mental health will be expanded. Persons with disabilities were also a central topic on Monday as Cummings noted that National Vocational School has continued for those in Sophia; at the Harold B Davis School; Ptolemy Reid Centre and Chesire Home.

Dr. Cummings said that 72 staff members from the Rehabilitation Department are now receiving training for the reintegration of children from institutions to parental homes.
PWDs are also being considered in the Country Work Programme for Disaster Risk Reduction in Guyana and, through collaboration with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), are included in the Housing Solutions Project.

“The increased allocation to the public health sector means that as a government, we are working assiduously to ensure that Guyanese live healthy lives so that they can benefit from and enjoy the ‘good’ life,” Cummings said, later adding: “This government will not quit because our economy is round and sound.” This means you win Mr. Speaker, the government wins, the opposition wins and everybody from the Rupununi to the Corentyne will win.”