5 April 2023 (PAHO) – PAHO/WHO Guyana, Family and Community Health Unit, supported the Ministry of Health, Maternal, and Child Health Department in conducting field visits to health facilities at Kato, Karukabaru, and Kopinang, Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni). The visit addressed equity issues regarding maternal and child health services and vaccination access in the Expanded Programme on Immunization.
Kato, Karukabaru, and Kopinang are indigenous communities and home to the Patamona people. These are highly remote mountainous communities, mainly accessed by aircraft and All-Terrain Vehicles. These communities bordered Guyana/Brazil.
Access to health care is problematic since most communities are far from health facilities, and some people have to walk miles to access services. As a result, there needs to be higher vaccination coverage and challenges with maternal and child health services.
The PAHO/WHO Guyana CO will continue to support the Ministry of Health to ensure equitable access to health in hard-to-reach areas.
