THE Ministry of the Presidency and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) are strengthening efforts to address climate change challenges in the health sector.

Following a courtesy call paid to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, by PAHO/WHO representatives on Monday, the stakeholders commenced the process of determining what actions need to be taken in this regard.

Visiting the Ministry of the Presidency were PAHO/WHO Country Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow; Consultants Dr. Zoikla Fletcher-Payton and Dr. Daniel Buss and Senior Advisor in Environmental Health and Sustainability, Adrianus Vlugman.

Also attending was Head of the Office of Climate Change, Janelle Christian.
According to a release from the Ministry, the meeting was part of the Government’s continued actions to address the emerging challenges of climate change and broadly to support its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in keeping with the Paris Agreement.
As part of the NAP, there is recognition that more in-depth work is required to address the emerging vulnerability and challenges in the health sector, with regard to climate change.
These actions would be influenced by applied research, which will then inform the institutional strengthening of the health sector.

At the gathering, Minister Harmon said that the Government was not averse to accepting assistance from any agency which can help Guyana to achieve its commitments to the Paris Agreement, particularly in the health sector.