Health Ministry looks to better its vaccination gains

May 02, 2017 News

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– Cold Storage challenges to be addressed

A comprehensive assessment of the status of its current cold chain equipment countrywide and increasing and improving its cold chain capacity are among the priorities of the Ministry of Public Health, as it aims to better its

vaccination coverage in the near future.
Careful attention will moreover be placed particularly on the hinterland regions, where most of the challenges of cold storage exist.
This was the informed disclosure of Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings.
“Enhancing our monitoring and evaluation capabilities relative to the earlier identification of dropouts and the need for follow-up visits is another priority for our health care professionals,” said Minister Cummings, as she pointed out that this plan will trigger more home visits and other outreach activities, inclusive of social mobilization initiatives utilizing appropriate public communication channels.
In order to achieve improved immunization coverage across the country, Guyana has established a Multi-Year Plan 2017 – 2021. Key to achieving universal vaccination coverage is the availability and optimal utilization of adequate human resources. In this regard, strategic efforts are being undertaken to strengthen human resources through continuous capacity building initiatives that will ensure immunization staff are properly trained and well-skilled to effectively execute their duties.
Also critical to achieving universal vaccination coverage is the unhindered access to remote areas of the country. Through better inter-sectoral coordination, enhanced transportation, and logistical systems, supported by a robust public communication strategy, it is expected that more persons will have access to vaccines and be sensitized to the importance and benefits of immunization, Minister Cummings said.
Her remarks were forthcoming at a recent dinner spearheaded by the Public Health Ministry and the Pan American Health Organisation [PAHO] to celebrate 40 years of its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).
“It is with a sense of pride and deep satisfaction that I stand before you to thank the hard-working staff of the Maternal and Child Health Department who are currently employed and are contributing to our excellent track record in immunization,” said Minister Cummings.
She continued, “To those who would have worked in the department over the years, and to every person who would has played some part in the advancement of Guyana’s EPI agenda over the past 40 years, I wish to extend greetings, and say thank you for your unstinting and invaluable service. It is with unreserved gratitude that I humbly applaud PAHO/WHO, our most faithful and longstanding technical partner, for the intrinsic support they have provided and continue to provide to Guyana’s EPI initiative.”
While there still remains much work to be done here in Guyana to achieve universal immunization, Minister Cummings noted that there are already many successes to celebrate. “These past 40 years have been a journey of significant proportions. The Ministry of Public Health will continue to build on the gains made over the past 40 years in Guyana’s EPI. As the government of Guyana continues to strategically invest in the public health sector, Guyanese are poised to achieve a grand convergence in public health – an environment where all women and children have the same access to health care, thus affording them an equal opportunity to survive and thrive, regardless of where they give birth or are born.”
Since the establishment of Guyana’s EPI programme, the Public Health Ministry has been able to achieve vaccination coverage of over 90 percent of all antigens given to the under-five population.
In 2014, Guyana placed third out of 74 countries for effective management of vaccines. And according to Minister Cummings, given the serious nature of some of the diseases that affect humans, “we have reason to celebrate our remarkable achievement in this key area of health coverage.”
Guyana is one of the countries that has benefitted from the Global Vaccine Action Plan [GVAP] initiative in procuring vaccines for our children. Currently, 17 vaccines exist in the Public Health Ministry’s vaccination schedule, to which every child can have equal access. The vaccination schedule commenced with only six pathogens.
The most recent vaccine added to the list of 17 is the Human papillomavirus, which has had its challenges to implement. But, according to Minister Cummings, “we are working assiduously to remove those barriers and overcome the challenges to the successful implementation of this very important and necessary vaccine.”
“A quick look at some indicators over the past few years will highlight Guyana’s continuous move towards achieving universal implementation of its vaccination programme,” said the Public Health Minister, as she boasted that Guyana has made significant progress in the fight against many infectious diseases.
She however asserted that “until we can ensure that every child, every person is receiving his or her required vaccines, there remains much more work to be done.”
A historical review will reveal that in the 1980s, the percentage coverage for BCG was at 68 percent. But according to Minister Cummings, in 2016 that statistic increased to 98 percent.
In 1995, polio coverage was at 87 percent and, according to her, in 2016, it is almost eradicated.
For measles coverage it was 67 percent in the 1995 but that skyrocketed to 100 percent in 2016.
Like all the others, DTP 3 coverage increased from 86 percent in 1995 to 98 percent in 2016.
“The treatment of other infectious diseases likewise mirrors this positive increase in coverage,” said Minister Cummings as she added, “It is very reassuring to note that Guyana is leading its regional partners in vaccination coverage, despite the many challenges faced regarding cost, transportation, storage, and staffing.”
She therefore stressed the need for the Public Health Ministry to continue to move forward by working along with its partners and other stakeholders to ensure Guyana’s EPI programme operates optimally.
“Together we must work to enhance our efforts at accessing proper financing and maintaining effective accountability practices so that infrastructure, service delivery, supplies, and capacity building are built in as part of the inflexible structures within our EPI,” she underscored.

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