IN a continued effort to strengthen Guyana’s response to the impacts of climate change on public health, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony met on Tuesday with officials from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to discuss the country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) on Health and Climate Change.

The high-level meeting brought together Dr. Rainier Escalada, PAHO Advisor on Health Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, and Ms. Chelsea Frank, PAHO National Consultant, who are both supporting Guyana’s strategy to build climate-resilient health systems.

Also participating in the discussions were Dr. Lindonne Telesford, Climate Change Expert and Associate Professor in Environmental and Occupational Health at PAHO’s Guyana Office, and Ms. Racheal Howard, Environmental Health Officer at the Ministry of Health.
The meeting focused on collaborative approaches to integrate climate change considerations into public health planning and to ensure that health systems across Guyana are prepared to respond to climate-related risks such as extreme weather events, vector-borne diseases, and heat-related illnesses.

The Ministry of Health and PAHO continue to emphasise the importance of strengthening surveillance, infrastructure, and early warning systems, while developing policies that promote sustainable and equitable health outcomes in the face of a changing climate.
This initiative forms part of Guyana’s broader commitment under its national climate strategy to safeguard the health of its population while meeting global climate resilience goals.