DR. LESLIE Ramsammy, former Minister of Health and Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport on Friday headed a list of award recipients at the Ministry of Health’s Seventh Annual Appreciation Ceremony, sponsored by and held at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, in Georgetown. Both ministers received the Outstanding Leadership Award for ‘Ride for Life – Tour of Guyana Cycle Race while nine agencies were singled out and awarded for their selfless and impacting contributions to the success of the Ministry of Health’s Voluntary Counselling Programme in various ways.
National Behaviour Change Coordinator, Jennifer Ganesh, in introducing the doctors, referred to them as ‘visionary leaders’ whose innovative approach to health and sport led to the ‘Tour of Guyana Cycle Race – Ride for Life’.  The activity is now a premier sports event in Guyana, with not only a local following, but from nine foreign countries as well, Ganesh said.
She said the innovation saw the utilisation of cycling as a medium for HIV Prevention activities, and at the same time resulted in a collaboration between the Ministry of Health; Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; Guyana Cycling Federation; Private Sector and Non-Governmental Organisations.
The political leadership and personal commitment of Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Dr. Frank Anthony, along with the efforts of their dedicated staff, ensured that the activity was not only successful, but also drove the expansion of the race over the years.
Said Ganesh: “These awards are presented to these honourable gentlemen for fine and outstanding leadership provided for the staging of the Tour of Guyana Cycle Race – Ride for Life from 2007 – 2011.”
Meanwhile, some nine other awards were presented to partners and entities that contributed to the heightened success of the Ministry of Health’s Voluntary Counselling and Testing Programme and the success of the national AIDS response in various ways. Areas recognised included – working assiduously towards mobilising and effectively influencing the remarkable boon in the number of persons being counselled and tested, and thereby knowing their sero status; contribution in kind towards the provision of  hampers and other forms of support for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV).
Those awardees receiving the ‘Excellence in Partnership Awards for National Week of Testing 2011’ were:

* Mr.Neil Sooklall, on behalf of ‘Impressions.
* Pandit Haresh Tiwari
* Brian Tiwari of BK International
* Guyenterprise
* National Communications Network – received by Programme Manager, Mr. Martin Goolsarran
* Ms. Linda Moore – Best D.J./Disc Jockey; Television and Radio.
* Berbice Regional Health Authority – The Award was received by Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo and presented by Dr. Ruben del Prado, UNAIDS Country Director, Guyana and Suriname.
* Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).  This award was received by Dr. Rosalindo Hernandez and was presented by Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, Minister of Health.
* Guyyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention Programme (GHARP) II – received by Chief of Party, Dr. Olufemi Owoeye and presented by Dr. Bheri Ramsaran.

Meanwhile, Dr. Shanti Singh, Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), placed special emphasis on acknowledging the support  received for the National Week of Testing 2011, referring to the occasion as a hallmark event under the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Programme (VCT) Programme.
“Today we take a pause to say thanks to everyone who has supported us… and whilst today we acknowledge a few agencies and partners, I ask that you give a round of applause for everyone who supported us… everyone who has worked with us and to everyone who has stood with us and by us,” Dr. Singh asserted.
Noting that 2011 has been a good year for the NAPS Secretariat, she said that it is through collective efforts that the entity continues to make inroads in all areas of its response to HIV/AIDS.

VCT – a cornerstone for HIV Prevention
The NAPS Programme Manager said that, guided by the ministry’s vision of Universal Access to Prevention Services for the local programme, VCT remains an essential component in the multi-pronged approach to changing sexual behaviours; it is a proven cost-effective way of preventing new infections and provides the opportunity for early access to anti-retroviral therapy, thereby improving the quality of life and life expectancy. “Indeed, it remains one of the cornerstones for HIV Prevention!” Dr. Singh affirmed.
Recognising the importance of this programme, the Ministry of Health has employed all strategies, explored all avenues and seeks to be as innovative as possible in ensuring that every Guyanese knows his/her status.
The National Week of Testing launched in 2006 emerged from this initiative and has been successful from its inception, she said, adding, “This significant public health initiative has brought about remarkable changes within the HIV response, which were very obvious,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Singh also disclosed that the treatment programme has grown and is continually using evidence for decision-making. To this end she said, Guyana has completed the second revision of its guidelines and has refreshed the way in which patients (PLHIV) are managed.
The Programme Manager said that, as Guyana strengthens its treatment programme, prevention remains paramount in reducing new infections and in bringing hope that the end of AIDS is indeed within reach. She stressed that the key to prevention is knowing one’s status.
Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, concurred with Dr. Shanti Singh that VCT is a flagship programme and influences the way things are done.  He alluded to the impact and the strong contribution of the programme on the wider health sector.
Testifying to the programme’s capacity to mobilise, Dr. Ramsaran cited the fact that during National Week of Testing, NAPS was able to get 45,000 persons counselled and tested. He boasted of the fact that NAPS had the vision and boldness of initiative, to not be contented to keep it small, but make the programame national.  He also congratulated Drs. Leslie Ramsammy and Frank Anthony for the great part they played – their innovation given and initiatives taken.
The Health Minister assured his audience that, despite contracting donor support, the Ministry of Health is committed to mobilising resources to ensure work already done is not lost. In the scheme of things, he stressed the need to leverage more resources to continue the work of the programme.