Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
Over 2500 trained under PAHO/WHO-CIDA programme
By Zena Henry
Over 2500 local medical workers are now better equipped to handle a variety of health concerns following a three-year training programme facilitated by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Melanie Thomas, PAHO/CIDA Coordinator
The project which aimed to “improve health and increase protection from communicable diseases for women, children, and excluded populations in situations of vulnerability in Latin America and the Caribbean,” will come to an end next week, but trainees would have by then, benefitted in areas such as service delivery, maternal, child and adolescent health, vector control, sanitation, hygiene practices and human resources for health, among several other areas.
While the project sought to incorporate all 10 regions, specific emphasis had been placed on far- reaching hinterland areas in region one, seven, eight and nine.
According to project coordinator, Mrs. Melanie Thomas, the venture has an overall objective to fill in the gaps that exist in national health programming with respect to neglected populations and geographic areas using integrated approaches to health delivery.
It is for this reason; Thomas told a gathering of media workers, that special focus had to be placed on the hinterland locations, since the goal is to work with the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies where necessary to achieve the goal of the PAHO/CIDA-funded project.
The coordinator said that the project seeks to strengthen basic health systems for primary health care in the region of children and excluded populations in vulnerable positions within the focus areas of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Guyana was also said to be the only English-speaking nation to be part of the international programme which involves 11 other countries. Some US$18M had been allocated to aid the countries taking part in the health programme, Guyana received about half a million. Also, of the Caribbean, Guyana and Haiti are the only two countries on board, having been regarded as “priority” or “key” countries.
This means that based on certain indicators, the countries would have been chosen as needing the most help.
It was explained that in terms of Haiti, the country is still trying to regain its composure, especially after the major earthquake that had destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure. It was found however that Guyana was easier to work with in this area since the country could have adopted and link the project with much ease.
PAHO’s resident representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, explained further that the selection of priority countries is dependent on the indicators.
For example, he stated, while Guyana is not the worst, the maternal rate is an area for concern. Reports in the last couple of years, he recalled, have shown as much as 25 maternal deaths where women have died as a direct result of childbirth.
“In this day and age, nobody should die from child birth,” he opined.
Additionally, the Gross National Income (GNI) as well as other economic data such as the information on increased income in Guyana is useful. In fact, it has been recorded that there has been an increase in income in the country.
“But the problem with that is that Guyana has now moved from a low income to a low middle income country, and that means that the country is likely to benefit less from foreign aid and grants,” Dr. Adu-Krow said.
While it is shown that more money is being generated within the country, the separation of those who have and do not have is also on the rise. But all is not doom and gloom in Guyana, Dr. Adu-Krow said, since according to data reviewed as recent as Monday, Guyana is fourth in the world in terms of exceptional vaccine management.
“Generally there are challenges that need to be addressed in health and that’s why Guyana has been termed as a key country.”
The project implementers have achieved enhanced knowledge of human rights and a human rights-based approach (HRBA) among health workers and other stakeholders.
Enhanced consideration of gender and ethnicity in strengthening health services, contribution to human resources for health plans to improve equitable access to Family Medicine, Radiology and Medicine Programmes, and strengthened health system governance with emphasis on national strategy.
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