NINE secondary schools and two health centres in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) recently received a quantity of items from UNICEF Guyana within the framework of the European Union-United Nations (EU-UN), Spotlight Initiative.

This donation forms part of a programme which is being facilitated by the implementing partner in Region Six, St. Francis Community Developers.

Filing cabinets, smart televisions, computers with back up batteries and keyboards, stationery, tents, tablet devices and printers were among the items donated.

UNICEF Country Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Nicolas Pron, noted that the donation will strengthen the recipients’ capacity to provide more services in their respective communities.

He further stressed the importance of a holistic approach when it comes to the elimination of violence against women and girls.

“It’s not just UNICEF; it’s not just the government, its education, health, NGOs, community services, local government agencies. Everybody has to get involved including the beneficiaries themselves…that is why we have a multi sectoral approach to make sure every service interacts with women and girls and today education and health services are primarily included in the initiative.”

Pron expressed his gratitude for the positive impact the programme has made in the fight to reduce instances of violence against women and girls. To this end, he pledged his continuous support towards interventions that will help reduce such occurrences.

Meanwhile, Director of Regional Health Services, Dr. Vishalya Sharma said the donation will contribute to the regional health plan of decentralisating community-based rehabilitation.

She expressed gratitude to UNICEF for the support and also pledged to continue in any partnership that is beneficial to the communities.

The recipients from the education sector also expressed gratitude for the donation which will specifically aid the Health and Family Life Education (HLFE) subject department of the various schools.

President of St. Francis Community Developers, Alex Foster, explained how timely and effective the donation was towards health and education.

In his remarks, he pointed out that based on the data provided, Angoy’s Avenue and Port Mourant have the most reported cases of violence.

Further, he said that as the project winds down, this type of donation will aid in sustainability as it will ensure that the communities and partner agencies can continue to provide much needed services for those in need.

Additionally, the items will be used in conjunction with the staff to spread awareness and promote the services being offered at the various health centres.

Foster said that the 43 persons assigned to the health centres as part-time workers, will be trained to provide basic services to the communities.

“The spotlight initiative decided that it would be timely and effective to not only mobilise them but get them trained because some of them may have never been in a work environment nor involved in outreach or health. They will go into communities to publicise the activities of the health centers.”

He said health centres are no longer about maternal and child health care as they now offers a variety of services which members of the public do not know about.

To further support the programme, St Francis Community Developers donated two electric bikes each to Port Mourant and Angoy’s Avenue to assist the team from the health centres who will be conducting community outreaches.