GUYANA’S expanding health-care system also needs to be supported by increased national attention to injury prevention, particularly the prevention of motor-vehicle crashes, which remain a major threat to life and impose a heavy load on emergency and surgical services.
This challenge has been brought into sharp focus by research presented at the Bethune Round Table 2026.
Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of trauma-related death among admitted patients in a study of more than 5,000 trauma admissions to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) between 2018 and 2022.
Burns had the highest proportion of deaths of all the injury categories studied, at 11.4 per cent.
These findings are more than just medical statistics. They are a call to action for policymakers, motorists, employers, communities and every citizen who has a part to play in making Guyana safer.
The research was presented by Dr Alexander Harvey, Director of the Institute of Health Sciences Education, and Dr Dwayne Kellman, a consultant in the Accident and Emergency Department of the GPHC, who also found that falls contributed significantly to serious injuries. Factors associated with the likelihood of death following trauma included age, injury severity, injury type and ethnicity.
Patients admitted over a five-year period were studied but the findings provide valuable evidence to guide injury prevention, emergency response and the delivery of specialized medical care.
They also stress the importance of addressing the circumstances that lead to injuries, and not only treating their consequences.
Motor vehicle crashes are a preventable cause of death and disability. Accidents can occur in many situations but reckless driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, not wearing seatbelts and not following traffic rules are behaviors that can be changed through enforcement, education and responsible decision-making.
Guyana’s road network is expanding with economic activity, construction and vehicle ownership Such developments render road safety an increasingly important public concern. Thus, infrastructure upgrades must be complemented by responsible road usage, effective traffic management and ongoing public awareness.
Motorists need to understand that their actions have an impact, not just on their own safety but on the lives of passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. Follow speed limits, lock up, don’t drive impaired, and stay alert behind the wheel.
Pedestrians also need safer crossing facilities, increased public awareness and road environments that take into account the needs of children, older persons and persons with disabilities. Where evidence identifies high risk road locations or crash patterns, the relevant authorities should use that evidence to inform specific measures.
Law enforcement still plays a critical role, but it must be balanced with public education and steady accountability. The goal shouldn’t be just to write tickets or punish offenders, it must be to reduce crashes, prevent serious injuries and save lives.
The research also shows burns, which had the highest percentage of deaths of the injury types studied, although fewer patients were admitted with this type of injury.
This finding underscores the need for greater public awareness of burn prevention, particularly in homes, workplaces and other locations where people may be exposed to fire, hot liquids, electricity or hazardous substances.
Households should be advised on safe cooking practices, safe storage of flammable materials and safety precautions for the use of electrical equipment and gas appliances. Employers must make sure workers receive proper safety training and have protective equipment, including in jobs that involve heat, machinery and other hazards.
Schools, community organizations and healthcare professionals may also help lobby for practical safety measures and educate people about how to respond to burns before professional assistance arrives.
Falls are another leading cause of serious injuries that require targeted attention. Safe workplaces, secure stairways, adequate lighting, and suitable handrails and attention to hazards in homes and public spaces can reduce risks. Particular attention should be paid to the elderly and others who may be especially vulnerable to serious complications following a fall.
It is often cheaper, in human and financial terms, to prevent than to treat severe injuries. Therefore, injury prevention needs to be considered as an integral part of public health policy and investments should lead to improved results.
Guyana has been building its health infrastructure and expanding access to health-care services. In 2025, six new regional hospitals were commissioned, increasing access to emergency services, diagnostic imaging, surgical services and inpatient care outside Georgetown.
Surgical Technology and Specialised Procedures Investments in surgical technology and specialised procedures have expanded the capacity of the hospital to manage increasingly complex medical conditions. The development of electronic health records is another important step in improving access to patient information, supporting clinical decisions and strengthening continuity of care.
Trauma outcomes often hinge on how quickly patients receive the right treatment, which makes these initiatives important. Trained personnel, working equipment, emergency transport, diagnostic services, blood supplies and surgical facilities can be the difference between life and death.

But infrastructure alone can’t ensure better outcomes. Hospitals have to be staffed, equipment needs to be maintained, health professionals have to be constantly trained. Emergency services also need to be organised so that seriously injured patients can get to facilities where they can receive the care that they need without unnecessary delays.
The findings from the GPHC study should therefore be used to inform a wider assessment of Guyana’s trauma-care system. Policymakers and health-care administrators should investigate where the delays are occurring, which injuries are the most demanding on services and what additional resources would bring about the greatest improvement in patient outcomes.
Better co-operation between emergency medical staff, regional hospitals and specialist units could help ensure patients receive the right treatment as early as possible.
The hosting of the Bethune Round Table by Guyana for the first time since the establishment of the international conference in 2001, is an important opportunity to improve medical research, professional development and international collaboration.
The conference, themed “From Training to Surgical Transformation: Advancing Surgical Care through Global Partnerships and Local Innovations,” brought together health-care professionals, researchers and policy makers from 17 countries.
Its discussions on trauma systems, pedestrian safety, patient safety, digital innovation, reproductive-health equity and specialised surgery reflect the breadth of issues that need to be tackled to improve health-care outcomes.
Delivering remarks at the opening ceremony, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony spoke on Guyana’s aspirations to become a major provider of specialised health-care services in the Caribbean.
GPHC Chief Executive Officer Robbie Rambarran also pointed to the need for continued investment in infrastructure, equipment, technology, education, research and clinical excellence.
These priorities are mutually reinforcing. Modern facilities work best when they are backed by skilled professionals, reliable systems and research that helps identify what works.
The work that Drs Harvey and Kellman have presented shows the value of looking at local patient data to look for patterns of injury and death. This evidence can help the health sector move beyond general assumptions and build interventions tailored to the needs of the population.
The next step should be to translate these kinds of findings into practical programmes, measurable targets and regular assessments of progress. Further research could determine if interventions are lowering injury rates, improving survival and addressing differences in outcomes between patient groups.
Another important message from the conference was that health outcomes are not just a matter of access to medical treatment.
The GPHC research is a timely reminder that the success of a health-care system must be judged not only by the number of hospitals built or specialised procedures undertaken, but also by how well it prevents avoidable illness, injury and death.
Guyana’s investment in health-care infrastructure and specialised services opens the door to better treatment of patients with serious injuries. The challenge now is to ensure that those investments are matched with stronger prevention programmes, more effective emergency response and continued use of research to inform decisions.
Motor vehicle crashes, burns and falls require sustained attention from public authorities and communities. Every injury prevented means less suffering for individuals and families, and less pressure on hospitals and emergency personnel.
Saving lives starts long before a patient arrives at an emergency room. A national health system that invests as much in prevention as it does in treatment will be in a better position to protect its people and to secure lasting improvements in public health.