GEORGETOWN, GUYANA 9 SEPTEMBER 2024- The Ministry of Health of Guyana and PAHO conducted a national consultation to finalize the first national Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Strategy. Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Health of Guyana, welcomed at his office a visiting team from PAHO Headquarters comprised by an expert on antimicrobial resistance and a senior specialist on laboratories.
The consultation was the culmination of a process that began in July with six virtual sessions to discuss with more than 20 national stakeholders the proposed strategic objectives of Guyana in this area. The team also visited the Guyana Livestock Development Authority lab, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the National Public Health Reference Lab. The consultation, hosted at the Ministry of Health, gathered 26 specialists from different sectors including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the University of Guyana, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Pharmacist Council, among other institutions.
Aside from supporting the finalization of the future National AMR Strategy, the consultation was useful to start a dialogue among institutions and sectors mentioned as they play key roles in addressing AMR. Consensus on actions that need to be taken in the short, medium, and long-term was an important achievement of the meeting. PAHO/WHO will continue to support the Ministry of Health in the implementation of the AMR strategy.
