GEORGETOWN, GUYANA, 2 OCTOBER 2024- The Ministry of Health, with the support of PAHO/WHO and UNICEF, conducted a three-day consultation workshop from 23 to 25 September 2024. The workshop brought together representatives from key agencies working in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems across Guyana to reinforce coordination across sectors.
Millions of people in the Americas still lack adequate drinking water sources and safe facilities for disposing of and eliminating faeces. It is estimated that 28 million people in the Region lack access to improved water sources and 83 million lack access to improved sanitation facilities. Many communities experience water and sanitation issues due to problems of infrastructure, human resources, and community participation in developing good hygiene practices.
During the opening ceremony, the Chief Medical Officer emphasized the significance of this multi-sectoral gathering, stating that WASH is not solely a health concern but a national priority. Additionally, UNICEF's WASH focal point and the PAHO Advisor for Communicable Diseases Control and Elimination, highlighted the necessity of cross-sector collaboration to ensure comprehensive adherence to WASH principles that proactively addresses gaps in WASH which is key to the country’s preparedness, prevention, and response to potential public health emergencies and to the overall implementation of the One Health Initiative.
Using the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water (GLAAS) Survey as the guiding tool for the consultation meeting, the discussion examined the following aspects pertaining to WASH: policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, monitoring systems, regulations, human resources, and financing. Data collected from the survey, can guide priority actions and next steps towards enhancing local WASH systems.
A total of 34 participants attended the workshop, including representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, Guyana Water Inc., the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Human Services & Social Security, the Civil Defense Commission, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, the Guyana Analysis Food and Drugs Department, and the Ministry of Labour.
PAHO/WHO will continue providing technical support to Guyana for the implementation of WASH in Guyana.
