Georgetown, Guyana- 17 May 2023- Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)/ Global Affairs Canada Project donated forty-four (44) pieces of equipment at the Central Supply Unit (CSU Bond), located in Kingston, to the Ministry of Health's Maternal and Child Health Department and the Women's Health Unit to aid in the strengthening of the Maternal, Adolescent, and Neonatal Health and Immunization Programme. Several Ministry of Health and PAHO/WHO staff attended the handover ceremony.
The Global Affairs Canada Project, Improved Health of Women and Adolescent Girls in Situations of Vulnerability (2021 - 2025), and the Immunization Programme funded the procurement of the donated items. The items donated were Gynecological examination beds, LED examination lamps, portable ultrasound machines, fetal dopplers, and a direct solar refrigerator.
Dr. Luis Codina, PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana, stated that through the Global Affairs Canada Project, activities would continue to address the high numbers of adolescent pregnancies, specifically in Regions One (1) Barima-Waini, Four (4) Demerara-Mahaica, Seven (7) Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Eight (Potaro-Siparuni and Nine (9) Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo.
He added that the work the Ministry of Health is doing and the equipment they are receiving will reinforce the health services to provide better care for adolescent girls and women.
Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, thanked PAHO/WHO and the Canadian Government for their steadfast donations. He noted that within the rural regions of Guyana, the Ministry is constantly trying to upgrade their Cold Chain Storage to ensure adequate storage for vaccines is at the level of Health Centres.
"Several of the Health Centres in the rural areas in the hinterland regions do not have electricity, so the only way we can have refrigerators work properly is to ensure they are solar. "We want to ensure we have the right equipment out in the region so that we can make a better diagnosis and ensure that if we discover problematic pregnancies, we can take the necessary precautions to save mothers. Each region should have proper and adequate equipment to provide quality services to improve maternal health within the country, " said Dr. Anthony..
PAHO/WHO will continue to support the Ministry of Health to improve maternal and child health in the country.
