–greater emphasis on preventive care rather than cure
SIGNIFICANT improvements to healthcare delivery in Region Seven were on Thursday discussed during the Ministry of Health’s 2025 Regional Health Leadership and Review Meeting, where officials outlined new strategies aimed at strengthening services and improving patient outcomes across the region.
The meeting brought together senior health officials, regional administrators, and healthcare leaders to assess progress made during the past year while identifying key priorities moving forward. Among the major focus areas discussed was the need to strengthen preventative healthcare measures, particularly for the region’s aging population.
Director-General of the Ministry of Health Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo urged regional health leaders to place greater emphasis on prevention, noting that lifestyle choices play a critical role in long-term health outcomes.
“I need us to focus more on prevention rather than cure, so I want to see your plan talking about diet, plan talking about exercise and how we can spread the word around. I want you to work with your leaders in the region, and I need a pensioners organization established,” the Director-General stated.
The pensioners organization that will serve as a platform to engage and educate older residents about maintaining their health and managing chronic conditions.
Dr. Mahadeo further explained that the geographical layout of the region must also be taken into consideration when designing programmes, adding that older patients often require specialised care due to the physiological changes that occur with age.
“When we form the pensioners organisation, we will have our people come into the region and have a talk with them, to guide them, because older persons with complications such as diabetes and hypertension, the system functions differently from a 25-year-old body. How do you manage all of this with a patient? So we’re looking for a doctor to do geriatrics, stroke medicine, which is also a specialised area, one for diabetes and pain management, and one for anti-aging.”
The initiatives form part of the Ministry of Health’s broader strategy to strengthen preventative care, improve public health awareness, and ensure that specialised services are available to meet the needs of Region Seven’s diverse and widely dispersed population.
In addition to preventative health initiatives, the meeting also addressed a number of other key priority areas, including the management and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, care for bedridden patients, expansion of dialysis services, and strengthening the Ministry’s healthcare voucher programme.
Discussions also focused on updating health infrastructure across the region, reviewing and expanding the list of essential medicines available at health facilities, and enhancing vector control management to combat diseases such as Malaria and Dengue Fever.
Health officials further examined strategies to improve surveillance and response systems, while outlining plans to strengthen public health education and service delivery throughout the region.
The review meeting forms part of the Ministry of Health’s ongoing efforts to ensure healthcare systems across the country continue to evolve to meet the needs of the population, while improving the overall quality and accessibility of services. It is part of President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision to ensure that all Guyanese have access to equitable and world class health from the coast to the hinterland.
