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Guyana pledges commitment to child survival
“Guyana has in recent years made strides in safe motherhood and child protection,” Minister of Health Bheri Ramsaran noted Thursday during a ceremony at Parliament Building where the government pledged its commitment to child survival.
The pledge was signed by Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran in the presence of UNICEF representative for Guyana and Suriname, Dr Suleiman Braimoh.
Minister Ramsaran said that there has been a steady decline in maternal mortality rate. He said that the statistics from 2010 to this year prove this.
He said that there were 24 maternal deaths in 2010; 14 last year and nine so far this year. The Minister said that even though the decrease is notable his Ministry is committed to take that number down to zero.
He added that child protection is key and critical to the development of wider society and to the child. Dr Ramsaran said that more emphasis has been placed on female children and those with disabilities.
As part of the effort to address early child development, the Health Ministry has implemented a number of programmes to deal with various issues faced by children.
One such effort, according to the Minister, is that a collaborative effort was made between the Education and Health Ministries to address children affected by autism.
The Minister said that it was recognized that children affected by autism have special needs thus the Health Ministry has provided a small school for 20 autistic students.
Designating the pledge agreement “A call to action” the Minister said that more can be done to enforce child protection legislation.
Last November, the four major political groups contesting in the general elections signed a commitment towards the progressive realization of children’s rights.
The forum was organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Rights of the Child Commission and in coordination with the Guyana Elections Commission.
The event was prepared with a view to making children’s issues visible in the agenda of the country’s political parties since it was largely absent; and setting the stage for stronger political will to address children’s issues after the national and regional elections.
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