Latest update August 15th, 2026 10:49 AM
Mar 28, 2023 News
Kaieteur News – Guyana is keen on reinforcing the ‘One Health’ agenda among key stakeholders as a strategy for pandemic preparedness and prevention, as well as a mechanism to support the nation’s disease eradication efforts.
The inaugural ‘One Health’ meeting was held Monday last at Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, Kingston, Georgetown, to further drive the health policy that seeks to avoid and prepare for present and future health concerns.
During his remarks, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said that a comprehensive approach is necessary to achieve the agenda. He explained this can be accomplished by establishing resilient surveillance systems, improving laboratory services, and developing the human capacity to respond appropriately to present and future health concerns. “This one health agenda is very important because we see this as the logical way in which we can make our country very resilient. The investments that we are going to make over time are going to be to improve surveillance, laboratory, and human capacity. And not just limited to animal health, but also to look at what is going on in the environment,’ Dr Anthony noted.
The ‘One Health’ initiative is a collaborative multi-sectoral and transdisciplinary approach at the local, regional, national, and global levels, aimed at achieving optimal health outcomes. “When we think about the consequences if we don’t have this approach, it can really be devastating, and COVID-19 is just one of those reminders that this is real. Instead of thinking about human health as just working within the human population… we have to look at those interconnections,” the health minister explained.
All the agencies involved have shown a willingness to work to formulate mitigation measures to prevent present and future health risks. Advisor on CARICOM’s Agri-Food System, Dr Richard Blair said the process will provide services to bolster the country’s food production and enhance opportunities for exports. “We believe that by focusing on this one health programme, it will provide some services for us in ensuring food safety and importantly in preventing early pathogenic influenza,” Dr Blair stated.
Meanwhile, PAHO/WHO Representative in Guyana, Dr Luis Codina disclosed that PAHO has been mandated by countries within the regions of the Americas and Caribbean sub-regions to coordinate, promote, and provide technical cooperation to support countries in implementing ‘One Health’. The Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Country Representative, Dr Gillian Smith, People’s Republic of China Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Ann Miller and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture representative in Guyana, Wilmot Garnett, were among those present at the meeting. (DPI)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Rising Debt, Rising US Dollar Rate in Oil-rich Guyana!

Aug 15, 2026
By Rawle Toney (Kaieteur Sports) The Bayroc National Stadium in Linden has emerged as Guyana’s only track and field facility currently listed as certified by World Athletics. According to track and...Aug 15, 2026
(Kaieteur News) For months now Cuba has been under U.S. pressure. It is being starved of the resources it needs for energy in the face of the collapse of its electricity grid. And only a handful of individual and groups in Guyana have been brave enough to come forward and to condemn the imperialist...Aug 02, 2026
By Sir Ronald Sanders (Kaieteur News) – Daniel Ortega has now said openly what his regime has demonstrated for years: the people of Nicaragua are not to be permitted to remove their rulers through elections. During celebrations marking the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, Ortega...Aug 15, 2026
Hard Truths by GHK Lall (Kaieteur News) I think that CCJ President, Dr. Winston Anderson, has only one option. My recommendation is that he tenders. From what is now concretised in the public record, most likely throughout the region, he is radioactive. If the allegations were from one colleague, I...Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: glennlall2000@gmail.com / kaieteurnews@yahoo.com