— $750M to support rolling out of COVID-19 vaccines

MANAGING the COVID-19 pandemic and improving health services overall is a key aim of the incumbent government as $53.5B has been allocated to the health sector in the 2021 National Budget.

This allocation was announced by the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, during the presentation of the budget on Friday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

This massive allocation has been made with the aim of expanding speciality care, developing an adequately trained and competent healthcare workforce, and modernising and expanding local health facilities. This, Dr. Singh said, is the vision of President, Dr. Irfaan Ali.

“To begin delivering on this vision while addressing the challenges of the pandemic, the government has significantly expanded the resources made available to the public health sector and budgeted $53.5 billion for 2021,” Dr. Singh said.

Catered for in this sum is $1.8 billion to purchase critical medical equipment for the public health sector; $99.8 million is budgeted for re-equipping the ophthalmology hospital in Port Mourant; $322 million for the acquisition of medical equipment, including ventilators and anesthesia machines which will expand diagnosis and treatment capacity at the national referral hospital, which is the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Additionally, $35 million is budgeted under the allocation for the health sector to strengthen the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) capacity. Importantly, a holistic plan to introduce an ambulance authority will also be introduced to aid the EMS, according to Dr. Singh.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

“As we proceed along our first full fiscal year in office, we are fully aware that COVID-19 continues to pose a significant challenge,” the Senior Minister highlighted too.

Already, $2.1 billion was expended on critical items such as medical supplies, COVID-19 testing kits, sanitising materials and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). While these items will continue to play a crucial role in Guyana’s COVID-19 fight, the newer phase of mitigating COVID-19 involves mass vaccination of the population.

“For 2021, government has made a provision of over $750 million to support the rolling out of COVID-19 vaccines from February and for the rest of the year in a phased approach, the first of which will cater to our frontline workers, the elderly, and persons living with comorbidities,” Dr. Singh said.

It was only this week that the vaccination rollout in Guyana actually began. Some 3,000 vaccine doses of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine was donated to Guyana by Barbados; this will allow 1,500 persons to be vaccinated since this vaccine is given in two doses.

In the coming months, Guyana is expected to receive thousands of vaccine doses from the COVAX facility, a global vaccination alliance; bilateral partners; and the African Union. Talks are underway with vaccine manufacturers to secure additional vaccination doses.

The government’s aim is to promote vaccination towards achieving herd immunity before the end of 2021. Herd immunity will occur once about 80 per cent of the population is immune to the disease, and vaccination is a way of ensuring immunisation.

COVID-19 has also placed a spotlight on Guyana’s issue with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, hypertension and chronic respiratory and cardiovascular ailments. The novel coronavirus may result in adverse effects in persons who have these NCDs, which would be termed ‘comorbidities’ since they are underlying health issues.

As such, the provision of $35 million has been made for the establishment of a diabetic prevention and rehabilitation clinic at the Lusignan Health Centre.

Beyond that, $900 million has been allocated to efforts geared at improving treatment and testing for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Efforts are also being made to eliminate the epidemic of malaria through the distribution of insecticidal nets, in 2021, to those areas in most need.

After the presentation of the budget, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony said that he was pleased with the allocation and noted that there is adequate money for Guyana to secure vaccines, and to be able to rollout the immunisation programmes.

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health issues are also being catered for. More than $70 million has been set aside to address the shortage of essential medication for psychiatric patients. An 18-bed mental health ward, that costs $26 million, will be constructed at the National Referral Hospital also.

Dr. Singh also reminded of the government’s commitment to review and revise the “outdated” Mental Health Act of 1930. This piece of legislation has been widely criticised since it imposes jail time for persons who attempt suicide.

The modernisation and expansion of the physical infrastructure is pegged at $2.8B; encompassed in this sum are the over $100 million capital investments in providing surgical interventions at the Aishalton and Kumaka District hospitals.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

It was also announced that the government will be examining the feasibility of establishing a maternal and child health hospital over the medium term. In the interim, however, over $140 million has been committed towards the financing of maternal waiting homes and facilities at Moruca, Enmore, and Kato, as well as $100 million for the construction and retrofitting of the maternity ward and wing at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

In the broader area of reproductive health, improvements will be made to cater for increased family planning services including wider contraceptive options, and education and screening for gynaecological, breast and prostate cancers. A sexual and reproductive health policy to guide health sector interventions over the medium-term is also expected soon.

Elderly health will also be focused on with focus now being directed to a community nutrition programme, expanded services offered at home visits and specific clinic days for the elderly, among others.

“Overall, we are extremely pleased in the health sector with the allocation that we have received,” Dr. Anthony commented.

PUT IN BOX

Allocation to the health sector at a glance:

1. $1.8 B to purchase critical medical equipment
2. $322M for the acquisition of medical equipment
3. $99.8M for re-equipping the ophthalmology hospital in Port Mourant
4. $750M to support the rolling out of COVID-19 vaccines
5. $900M for HIV services
6. $96M to support and improve mental health services
7. $2.8B to modernise and expand infrastructure