CANADIAN High Commissioner to Guyana, Nicole Giles during a courtesy call on Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton and Junior Public Health Minister, Dr. Karen Cummings, observed that there is a “big task ahead” of them to further develop the Ministry but she assured that Canada will continue to support the Government of Guyana and particularly the Ministry of Public Health as time progresses.During the discussion in the Minister’s office at the Ministry of Public Health, High Commissioner Giles stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening the bond between Guyana and Canada as it relates to the development of the health sector.
One of the main agreements between Guyana and Canada, she noted is the ‘Canada-Guyana Medical Partnership Coalition’, which they will be looking forward to improve as they move along, while more medical students would be accredited, more heart surgeries will be done, more doctors will be trained and so much more.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
However, she highlighted that empowering the community is one important area in the development of the health sector, thereby getting regular community members involved in the various outreach programmes done by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the various health centres. “This method has proven successful in Canada and should be promoted in Guyana as well.”
The Canadian High Commissioner later submitted a plan to the Public Health Minister which spells out some suggested strategies as well as other useful information which would prove useful for the development of the Ministry.
When asked about his venture into the portfolio, Minister Norton noted that, “we could only solve the problem if we know what it is, hence I want to have hands-on experience, that’s why I have been on the ground so we could decide how we are going to solve these existing problems within the sector.”
He further stated that they have been going around to the various health centres to gain their very own experiences, so as to assess the situation at these centres.
REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM
Apart from their own assessments, he added, they have called on the Heads of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to have an assessment of the Guyana’s health system, as it relates to the Regional health system, health officers and health authorities.
“I’m convinced that the Regional system is not a bad system, but there are the influential factors which ought to be improved so as to have the regional health system up and running again,” he said.
One such move, he highlighted, is to ensure that more Regional Health Officers are more qualified, and also to ensure that they work closely with the Regional offices.
Another measure they would be looking at is the formation of a Regional Health Committee to evaluate what exists at the moment. “The administration, however, is a problem at the various health centres, where simple repairs of the building and maintenance of the equipment can’t be managed,” said the Public Health Minister.
Meanwhile, Dr. Cummings said that they have to ensure that community health care is centralised so that there could be improved facilities at the various health centres.
“Having Guyana’s health system on par with foreign countries is a target which we will push to achieve, as they would also be targeting the 2020 vision of acquiring more personnel so as to boost the services offered at the local health care facilities,” she said.

By Navendra Seoraj