– as gov’t prioritises early healthcare interventions
JUST over 90 per cent of primary school pupils across Guyana have been screened under a national health initiative to identify health concerns early and improve long-term outcomes for children.
The update was provided by Cardiologist and Senior Health Adviser, Dr Mahendra Carpen, during his appearance on the Guyana Dialogue programme on Thursday, where he highlighted the government’s continued focus on strengthening preventive healthcare.
Dr Carpen explained that the school health screening initiative forms part of a broader effort to move the country’s healthcare system towards early detection and prevention, rather than waiting until conditions become more serious.
The programme assesses learners in key areas including mental health, dental health, vision, blood pressure, blood sugar levels and weight-related concerns.
While the primary school screening exercise has reached a majority of pupils, assessments at the secondary school level are also ongoing.
According to Dr Carpen, the information collected through the programme will provide health officials with important data on trends among young people and help guide future planning and healthcare policies.
The initiative is being supported through collaboration with international partners, including the Mount Sinai Health System.
The cardiologist reflected on the growth of specialised healthcare services in Guyana, particularly in cardiac care.
He noted that progress has been made since the establishment of the cardiac programme in 2006.
He explained that the programme was created to reduce the need for Guyanese patients to travel overseas for treatment and to build local capacity.
“Over the years, we have moved from where we were in 2006 and 2007, when we did our first cardiac procedure, to where we are today,” Dr Carpen said.
He highlighted that in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the cardiac institute has expanded its services, including performing hundreds of procedures annually, such as angiograms, stent placements, pacemakers, and open-heart surgeries.
Dr Carpen said the country has also advanced its ability to train local specialists through partnerships such as the cardiology residency programme with the Mount Sinai Health System, allowing Guyanese doctors to receive training at home.
He noted that the long-term goal is to ensure more regions have access to specialist care. [DPI]
