Guyana: MOH hosts First Quarterly MCH/EPI Review Meeting

Georgetown, Guyana: The Ministry of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Department (MCH) hosted an opening ceremony for the First Quarterly Maternal and Child Health (MCH)/ Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Review Meeting, on Tuesday, February 28, at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston.

According to the post by the Ministry, the three-day meeting, which is being held in collaboration with Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), will see staff and representatives discussing areas of EPI achievements for the year 2022 and ways in which the maternal child health services in the regions can be improved. Also on the agenda are discussions regarding data for COVID-19 vaccination.

While delivering the feature remarks, as per the update, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony highlighted that the Ministry is on the verge of eliminating Filaria, Leprosy and other diseases. He indicated that assessments are currently being undergone for Filaria, and once successful results are reported, the Ministry will be doing two additional assessments before declaring Guyana Filaria free.

It also explained that while touching on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs), Dr Anthony highlighted that Guyana is moving away from the traditional Voluntary Counselling and Testings (VCT) services to self-testing for HIV, an option which will allow people to take a test for HIV and find out their result in their own home.

He further pointed out that with the implementation of the use of the PrEP pill, Guyana will be able to achieve the target set by the United Nations. “We intend to achieve the UN target, 95-95-95 by 2025, and to eliminate HIV as a Public Health treatment by the year 2030,” he stated.

Highlighting the millions of dollars that have been invested in the healthcare sector, Dr Anthony highlighted some investments and achievements, especially in areas of Hubs and Cold storage and the electronic data system, which is being developed by Mount Sinai Health Systems. He also pointed out the recently launched telemedicine project that has since been implemented at five health centres and the recent upgrades to regional hospitals across the country.

At this Tuesday’s opening, the attendees were Dr Luis Codina, PAHO/WHO Representative to Guyana; Mr Nicholas Pron, UNICEF Representative to Guyana; MCH Officer and National EPI Manager, Dr Oneka Scott and PMTCT Coordinator, Dr Delroy Pyle.