ANOTHER important step in Guyana’s effort to build a stronger, more responsive and resilient public health system is the signing of a Service Delivery Agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).
At its heart, the Guyana One Health Project acknowledges a reality that modern public health can no longer afford to ignore: the health of people is intimately linked to the health of animals and the environment. The One Health approach demands collaborative action among these sectors to prevent, detect and respond to threats that may cross traditional institutional boundaries.
This is particularly so in a country like Guyana with its extensive forest cover, diverse ecosystems, expanding economic activity and dispersed population. Public health risks do not begin inside the walls of a hospital, nor are they confined to one sector.
A disease outbreak can involve human health, animal populations, environmental conditions, food systems and community practices all at the same time. So, good preparedness means sharing information, coordinating expertise, and acting with urgency.
The Service Delivery Agreement puts that principle into practice.
The Ministry of Health and PAHO/WHO will collaborate on laboratory strengthening, disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response, workforce development and multi-sectoral co-ordination, supported by some US$1.78 million in financing from the Pandemic Fund Grant and an International Development Association (IDA) Credit provided through the World Bank.
These are not just administrative objectives. They are critical elements of national health security.
The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the huge human, social and economic costs of being unprepared for a major health emergency.
It also found that the strength of a country’s response depends largely on what is in place before a crisis begins: reliable laboratories, trained personnel, effective surveillance systems, clear emergency protocols and strong co-ordination among institutions.
The Guyana One Health Project aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to health emergencies through an integrated approach that includes human, animal and environmental health systems.
The wider project was approved as a $22 million programme to increase Guyana’s health resilience.
The importance of laboratory capacity is especially critical. Strong laboratory systems enable health authorities to accurately and rapidly detect threats, confirm diagnoses and support evidence-based decision-making. Testing delays or weaknesses in diagnostic capacity can allow an emerging threat to spread before appropriate public health measures are in place.
Better disease surveillance can also give the early warning needed to detect unusual patterns, identify outbreaks and guide a timely response. Surveillance is not just the gathering of data. It is the gathering of data that leads to action.
It is also important that the project aims to strengthen Guyana’s core capacities under the International Health Regulations. These capacities are meant to assist countries in detecting, assessing, reporting and responding effectively to public health risks that may have national, regional or international implications.
Guyana has already taken steps to bolster its pandemic preparedness, including the completion of a National Action Plan for Health Security and efforts to enhance its International Health Regulations capacities. The new agreement should build on that foundation and help turn plans into sustained institutional capability.
Equally encouraging is the government’s recognition that infrastructure and technology alone will not be enough.
Training and recruiting personnel is one of the most important ingredients for long-term success and that is where the focus of Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony lies. Labs require experienced scientists and technicians. Surveillance systems need trained epidemiologists, data specialists and public health workers. Emergency-response plans depend on experts who understand what they are supposed to do and can perform under stress.
Therefore, the investment in human resources must remain at the centre of the project.
Training should not be treated as a one off and certainly should not be judged by the number of workshops held. The real test will be if Guyana can build and keep a workforce skilled enough to work in all areas, including the hinterland and remote communities, where distance and access can make it hard to find a disease and respond to an emergency.
The collaboration with PAHO/WHO also adds valuable technical expertise and international experience to the initiative. Such collaboration can help to ensure that Guyana’s systems are aligned with recognised standards whilst remaining responsive to local realities.
But external support should increase national ownership without creating long-term dependency. The goal must be to develop sustainable Guyanese institutions and capacities that continue to function well beyond the completion of individual grants and project cycles.
Also, the One Health approach requires effective collaboration beyond the Ministry of Health. Active partners must be the agencies responsible for agriculture, livestock, wildlife, environmental protection, food safety and disaster preparedness. Information sharing mechanisms must be reliable, responsibilities clearly delineated and co-ordination maintained even in the absence of an emergency.
Hence, the project’s success will not only depend on funding but also on implementation, accountability and measurable results.
The public should see improvements in laboratory turnaround times, disease surveillance coverage, workforce capacity, emergency preparedness and co-ordination among the relevant sectors. Having clear targets and reporting on a regular basis would help demonstrate how resources are being used and if the intended benefits are reaching communities across the country.
The signing of the agreement is thus more than a ceremonial milestone. It is an investment in prevention and preparedness, areas that often draw less attention than emergency response but can save lives and reduce disruption in the event of a crisis.
As Guyana continues to develop, new opportunities will emerge, but so will the importance of strong institutions that can mitigate new risks. Strengthening a resilient health system should remain a national priority not only during times of crisis but as a key component of the country’s development agenda.
The Guyana One Health Project presents an opportune moment to shore up the systems that safeguard the population before threats turn into crises. If sustained with commitment, effective co-ordination and a strong focus on developing local expertise, the initiative can help ensure that Guyana is better prepared not only to respond to the next public health challenge, but to detect and contain it before it grows into a national crisis.