CAD Equal Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Project launched in Guyana

Guyana: The High Commission of Canada today launched a CAD 2.25M ‘EQUAL Sexual as well as Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)’ Project in Guyana. The project is funded by the High Commission of Canada to Guyana and will be implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) through the Health Ministry, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association and Help and Shelter.

The project is geared at protecting women and girls in Guyana, including Indigenous women and girls and Venezuela migrants, by enhancing their ability to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives and by strengthening systems to prevent and respond to instances of gender-based violence. The project aims to enhance access to and use of quality sexual and reproductive health rights information and services, especially for survivors of gender-based violence in regions 1, 7, 8 and 9.

The project will also target persons of diverse gender identities or sexual orientations, persons living with disabilities and commercial sex workers.

EQUAL Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) will aid in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Goal 3 on Ensuring Healthy Lives and Well-Being for all and SDG Goal 5 on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Girls and Women.

Attending today’s launch at the Canadian High Commissioner’s Bel Air Gardens residence were Dr Ertenisa Hamilton, Director of Family and Primary Health Care Services; Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud; High Commissioner of Canada, Mark Berman; Jewel Quallo- Rosberg, Officer-in-Charge, UNFPA Sub- Regional Office of the Caribbean and other government officials.