Inaugural Health Expo to raise awareness about available health services

Apr 19, 2018 News

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It is imperative that individuals contribute to their own wellbeing and happiness. This was the notion that was amplified yesterday by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, when he delivered the feature address at a ceremony to launch the Ministry of Public Health’s 2018 Health Expo.
The Health Expo will be held from May 30 to June 2, 2018, at the Sophia Exhibition Centre.
Speaking at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, Nagamootoo emphasised that the onus remains on individuals to remain focused on their own health even when confronted with the various health challenges of life.

“Even while we have the shadow of depression and stress hanging like a ghost over our heads most mornings that we wake, we have to deal with situations in creative ways,” the Prime Minister noted.
He is stressing the importance of taking charge of one’s own health, reflected on his recent health challenges that amplified the need for him to take his own advice. Nagamootoo said that he was honoured to deliver remarks yesterday. “I recently earned, if I may say so, the distinction of being on the receiving side of the health services…I feel good; you can feel good too if you do the exercise [for example] for at least 30 minutes a day.
“You can do that while listening to Despacito…that got me running faster, especially when she [his daughter] showed me the video and it was extremely attractive,” joked the Prime Minister.
But on a serious noted, he noted that the Health Expo is intended to focus nationally on, not only the health policies, but how citizens can contribute to bringing about wellness in the society.
He, moreover, noted that the Health Expo will help to promote awareness about health conditions, diseases, viruses and things that could affect health – the major wealth of the nation.
The Health Expo was yesterday regarded as a deliberate and inaugural move by the Public Health Ministry to unveil the health vision of Guyana, said Senior Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence.
“The goal of this Health Expo is to develop synergies between the Ministry of Public Health and all the Health care providers and more importantly the general public,” said Minister Lawrence. She recalled that over the past few years, “we recognised that many persons appear at our various health facilities after they would have expended their savings at another institution because they were unaware that the said service is provided by the Ministry of Public Health free of cost.”
Minister Lawrence said that the Expo is one that is intended to ensure that people are acquainted with the services that are provided and at which health facilities they are available across Guyana.
She is optimistic that at the end of the Expo people will have a clear idea of where they can access various services.
Embracing its 20/20 Health vision plan, Minister Lawrence said that the primary focus of her Ministry is to ensure that Guyanese have access to the healthiest life possible.
Also speaking yesterday was Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Minister, Ms. Colette Adams, who revealed that the Expo will be held under the theme: ‘Reaching for a better life in good health’.
“The theme to mark this occasion is appropriate, given the remit of the Ministry of Public Health which is considered one of the more important sectors. Despite the challenges and constraints faced by health providers, the Ministry is optimistic that these challenges will be overcome in the near future and Guyana will continue to stand as a healthy nation,” Adams underscored.
Moreover, the objective of the Health Expo, she noted, is to strengthen health communication and awareness among citizens to sensitise the public to the services provided by the Ministry for improved health care and to provide the platform whereby local and foreign manufacturers, distributors and suppliers can interact and discuss current knowledge and best practices for health.
She noted, “The Ministry continues to stand committed in fulfilling its mandate as outlined in our 20/20 Vision which is to advise the wellbeing of all the people of Guyana, reduce inequalities and offer quality health services.”
She said that, “as stated in the objectives of the Expo, we must create a forum at which health services practitioners, suppliers and distributors can interact, discuss and understand the best practices in the health environment using modern knowledge, medicine and equipment…”
Health Expo 2018 will entail seminars and workshops for participants and hosts as well as a series of continuing medical education sessions for medical practitioners.
Among other things, the Expo will see the hosting of a career day to give students exposure to information about careers in the health field and give them an opportunity to training in various fields including nursing and other allied professions.
“This we hope will result in creating fulfilling, key and critical positions to address our human resource gap,” underscored Adams.

 

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