Stakeholders support needed to eliminate Neglected Infectious Diseases

Mar 22, 2017 News

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Controlling Neglected Infectious Diseases (NIDs) requires a long term, interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral approach that includes the collective efforts of all concerned stakeholders.

This notion was yesterday emphasized when the Vector Control Services Unit of the Ministry of Public Health held a stakeholders meeting at the Hadfield Street, Georgetown Regency Hotel.
Reading a speech on behalf of Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Samantha Kennedy, Technical Adviser to the Minister, underscored that “Guyana is still home to some NIDs which continue to have adverse effects on the lives of persons afflicted. Each individual disease is very different, but unfortunately, one person can be affected by more than one of these diseases at the same time. Therefore, it is imperative that more effective methods be employed to suppress the spread of NIDs in Guyana.”
She moreover commended the Vector Control Services/Global Fund Malaria Programme of the Ministry of Public Health, for once again organizing this forum for stakeholder engagement on NIDs.
The Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Kennedy noted, recognizes that in order to comprehensively address NIDs in Guyana, it needs to strengthen even further primary healthcare systems, as platforms for the national control programmes and capacity-building, through implementation of those programmes.
As such, the establishment of close partnerships with international donors like Global Fund, international partners like PAHO/WHO, pharmaceutical industries, communities, and non-governmental developmental organizations is very essential.
“These stakeholders have essential roles to play in the drive towards more effective control and ultimately elimination of NIDs in Guyana,” related Dr. Kennedy.
Even as Dr. Kennedy pointed out that several factors make the elimination of NIDs within reach, she considered that some of these factors are epidemiological, technological, and historical, but the most important one is a high level of commitment from government and stakeholder partners.
“I cannot over-emphasize the point that more collaborative effort is necessary in the fight against NIDs,” said Dr. Kennedy, as she added that “the Ministry of Public Health will scale up its use of safe and effective diagnostic tools and interventions that are available for the control of each of the NIDs in Guyana.”
In addition, she noted that more effective surveillance and monitoring will be done even as an evaluation system for tracking progress on a regular basis, especially based on performance indicators, will also form part of the Ministry’s strategy to combat NIDs.
“Ultimately, the data generated will be used for advocacy and for developing more appropriate evidence-based policies and strategies,” said Dr. Kennedy, as she added “Strengthening the integration of our national disease control programmes within our general public health systems remains important.”
Dr. Kennedy, whose remarks came at the end of the stakeholders’ forum, highlighted yesterday too, that intensified initiatives in the hinterland areas will serve as entry points for strengthening primary health care services, and provide a catalyst for health-care development. This strategy, she added, is in direct recognition that health systems appear weak in remote and border areas, where NIDs can remain undiagnosed and untreated. She continued, “Together, we must work assiduously to narrow the inequities of access to best quality health care services in the hinterland regions.”
But according to her, preventing stigma and discrimination is a remaining challenge along with the possible social displacement of people affected by NIDs. As such, training for health staff may be required to increase their awareness of how stigma and discrimination in communities can lead families to discourage their relatives with disfiguring diseases from attending health services, particularly if they are disabled and require assisted travel.
And since there is need for renewed efforts to eliminate NIDs to occur in ways that help bolster health systems, Dr. Kennedy assured “we are committed to ensuring that improved health services and access to drugs is accompanied by increased community awareness. Sustained advocacy, information, education, and communication will be utilized in the fight against NIDs.”
According to her, in the long term, it will be important to ensure that as a Ministry, “we collaborate with stakeholders to develop community-based programmes for the rehabilitation of disabled persons and their reintegration into their communities.”
For this reason, she noted that existing partnerships will need to be strengthened and new ones created. However, Dr. Kennedy considered that gender issues will require greater attention, particularly where women fear to attend health services because a specific diagnosis can cause them to be rejected by their families and communities.
Moreover, alliances will need to be established with community development organizations that address broader gender issues in affected communities, Dr. Kennedy announced.
“On a more positive note, intensified efforts to eliminate NIDs will surely bring us closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthen human rights. NIDs have serious consequences, particularly because those affected experience hunger and poverty and reduced access to education and employment,” said Dr. Kennedy, as she pointed out that “WHO has noted that these diseases are central to human rights as they deal with issues related to poverty, discrimination, and stigma as well as the right to health.”
In achieving the goal of ridding Guyana of NIDs, Dr. Kennedy stressed that “a lot of work needs to be done and it requires the collective efforts…Strike a decisive blow against NIDs and improve thousands of Guyanese lives,” she confidently asserted.
Among the NIDs that Guyana is currently battling are chagas disease, soil transmitted helminthes, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis and leprosy.
The NIDs stakeholder meeting represents an annual initiative to solicit the support in the quest to build and foster relationships to raise awareness.

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