Latest update April 17th, 2025 8:39 PM
Region Six honours special women on IWD
NEW AMSTERDAM , BERBICE – Guyanese must unite if domestic violence and other such social ills that plague women are to be stamped out, according to Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, last week.
The occasion was a function hosted by the Region Six Health Authority to mark International Women’s Day. The Minister, commenting on the travails of the women of yesteryear, alluded to the fact that though the future is bright for today’s woman still too many fall prey to domestic abuse. This trend must be removed, he said.
Some of the women honoured along with Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Chief Executive Officer of the New Amsterdam Hospital Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, and Chairman of the Region Six Health Authority David Armogan.
Minister Ramsammy said that the message against domestic violence must be articulated with clarity and conviction and that there should be no religious, political, racial divide or anything to stand in the way.
If there is one time to stigmatise and discriminate then it should be against men who engage in acts of sexual violence, especially rape, on women and girls. They must be treated as outcasts, Minister Ramsammy said.
He described as appalling the manner in which law enforcement officers sometimes treat complaints of domestic violence. This insensitive and unsympathetic approach may be the reason why many of those who are violated seldom come forward.
He said that his Ministry is now in the process of establishing a programme that features a specialised unit that deals with cases of sexual abuse content. Though the details of this initiative are still being worked out, it is expected that representatives of the Guyana Police Force and the health sector would be specially trained and would work in tandem at every hospital.
The selected personnel if not on duty will be called out when a victim turns up.
Statistics show that twice the number of young girls are being infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) when compared to boys. This disparity is too great since both genders are equally aware of the disease, the Health Minister said.
Melissa Johnson, who presented an overview of International Women’s Day, acknowledged that there have been considerable changes in attitude and position as these relate to women in society over the last decades. This does not erase the fact that women continue to fight against injustice, inequality, discrimination, and oppression in all its forms.
Commenting on the tribulations facing many women, Johnson said that in most households women bear the main responsibility of raising the children and performing domestic tasks regardless of the number of hours worked at their place of employment. Many women fall victim to violence and abuse not only within the home but also outside the dwelling place as well. “What more do we need to show that a culture of oppression still exists today?”
She quoted the late Mother Teresa who said, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”
Former First Lady, the late Viola Burnham, and former President Janet Jagan were two of the notable women highlighted during Melissa Johnson’s presentation.
Chief Executive Officer of the New Amsterdam Hospital Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, in saluting womenfolk, said that great sacrifices and strides have been made and many women now play leading roles in the development process.
Minister of Human Services Priya Manickchand also addressed the forum.
Chairman of the Region Six Health Authority David Armogan said that this is the fifth year that the health authority has taken the initiative to honour outstanding women for their contribution to society.
He noted that prior to the 1960s the woman’s role was relegated to the home and she was referred to as the weaker sex.
Eight women in East Berbice/Corentyne – Leila Clarke Daniels, retired Administrator of the New Amsterdam Hospital; Matron of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Annetta Luyken and Line Ministries Coordinator for HIV/AIDS at the New Amsterdam Hospital, Melissa Ramdeen; June Bailey, media representative of the Guyana Chronicle; Sergeant 14995 Yonette Stephens of the Guyana Police Force; Daphney Griffith of the Guyanese Women in Development; senior citizen Alma Benn; and Lecturer of the New Amsterdam Technical Institute, Merzena Cummings; were honoured by the Region Six Health Authority in observance of International Women’s Day 2009.
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