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US Ambassador lauds Guyana efforts to slash malaria cases

Nov 10, 2018 News

Although Guyana is still struggling to reduce its malaria cases, it was recently lauded for its efforts in recent years. United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, at a recent forum held at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown, highlighted how Guyana was able to realize massive successes between the years 2000 and 2015.
At the event organised by the Ministry of Public Health, Ambassador Holloway recalled that during that period Guyana was able to see a marked 58 percent reduction in malaria cases.
“Guyana has made excellent progress in reducing malaria,” said the Ambassador. He pointed out that partnership with stakeholders has allowed for great progress. He, however, asserted that procrastination at this point is not an option.
“We can’t stop!” said Ambassador Holloway, as he spoke of the United States’ government continued support to improving the prevention and control of malaria here.
The United States has been lending its support to Guyana through the Breakthrough ACTION project which falls under the purview of the United States Agency for International Development [USAID]. The project, which was implemented in 2017, is one that was designed to assist the Public Health Ministry to reduce malaria transmission.
This saw Guyana working along with the John Hopkins University to develop materials to create social and behavioural changes in malaria endemic areas including mining communities to ensure proper health practices.
In addition to the United States government, the Ministry has also been able to collaborate with the Pan American Health Organisation and Global Fund for this project. However, the project is set to come to an end in September 2019 hence the need for stakeholders to review and refine the insights gathered through formative research being conducted by Breakthrough ACTION and the Public Health Ministry.
It is expected that the insights will ultimately inform the co-creation of solutions to improve the uptake and adherence to malaria testing and treatment services.
The collaboration, according to Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr. Karen Cummings, has allowed for the Ministry’s National Malaria Programme to implement innovative interventions that target the delivery of services at the community level.
These include capacity building of miners and loggers in testing and treating themselves for malaria and the surveillance for emerging drug resistance in the Guyana shield.
“It is important that we do an assessment to understand the gaps in these components of the individual or patient that will influence the behaviour and subsequently use this information to guide the development of strategies that will target identified issues. It is important to know that the limited pool of antimalarials available to treat patients must be properly managed by the healthcare provider and patient,” the Public Health Minister said.
Of the 21 malaria-endemic countries in the Americas, Guyana is among the 18 which have expressed commitment to eliminate malaria.
Moreover, Guyana like these other countries, are being guided by the Plan of Action for Malaria Elimination [2016-2020], according to Senior Public Health Minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence.
The plan is one that focuses on the continued advancement of Member States of the Region of the Americas towards the elimination of local malaria transmission.
According to Minister Lawrence, “This plan is one that focuses on the continued advancement of Member States of the Region of the Americas, towards the elimination of local malaria transmission in Member States that are endemic, while preventing the reestablishment of the disease in those that are non-endemic.”
Moreover, the vision of the National Malaria Programme, remains focused on promoting malaria-free communities in Guyana, Minister Lawrence assured. The mission therefore is to interrupt the transmission of malaria in Guyana by improving access to early diagnosis and providing prompt, effective and safe anti-malarial treatment through a coordinated national response, Minister Lawrence said.

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