MINISTER of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, has been elected to the Executive Board of World Health Organisation (WHO) – a move that will see Guyana helping to shape global health policies.

Minister Lawrence was elected on Monday at the 72nd Session of the World Health Assembly currently being held in Geneva, Switzerland.

The WHO Executive Board has oversight responsibility for implementing decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly (WHA) – an advisory body that facilitates WHO’s work. Minister Lawrence will serve in the position for the next three years, the Ministries of Public Health and Foreign Affairs said on Monday, in two separate statements.

“The honour of serving in this esteemed position affords Guyana the opportunity to shape global and regional health policies and to bring more health-system resources to Guyana and the region of the Americas, thereby improving health care access and services to all its residents,” Guyana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and International Organisations, Geneva John R.D. Ford said in a statement.

The WHO Executive Board comprises 34 individuals and meets twice annually – in January and May. The 145th session of the Executive Board will be convened in Geneva next week.
Minister Lawrence is currently attending her third WHA conference and has helped establish Guyana “as a strong advocate for Universal Health Care to bring improved access and quality health care to all Guyana’s citizens, especially those most vulnerable,” Ford’s said while making the announcement.

Minister Lawrence’s election to the board comes approximately one year after Guyana received the World No Tobacco Day Award conferred by the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

WHO FCTC had recognized Guyana for the strong stance it took against the use of tobacco. In August 2017, the Tobacco Control Act became law after the bill was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President David Granger.

It took effect on December 11, 2017, following the issuance of a commencement order by Minister Lawrence. However, the initial focus has been on the Tobacco Industry.