Guyana: Ministry of Health hosts Mental Health Training

Georgetown, Guyana: The Ministry of Health (MoH) shared update regarding the training programme organised by the Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Unit, in collaboration with Mount Sinai University (USA).

The authorities held a train-the-trainers Disaster Mental Health training for participants from the various communities across Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) at the Regency Hotel.

As per the update by the Health Ministry of Guyana, this training which was facilitated by Dr Craig L Katz & Melissa Kelly from the Icahn School of Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, came at a time when twenty students, including a five-year-old boy, lost their lives in a tragic fire at the Mahdia Secondary School Female Dormitory in Region Eight.

During his brief remarks, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, stated that with this training, the community healthcare workers would be able to better identify challenges patients may have and refer them to professional doctors so that they can get the necessary care needed.

The update further informed that the Minister of health added that since the tragedy, Mount Saini has been on board, assisting the Ministry in acquiring medication for the injured students and providing DNA testing on the remains of students.

In addition, Minister Anthony expressed gratitude to the staff of the MOH, both central and Regional facilities, for their hard work in assisting with the tragedy.

In closing, he disclosed that telemedicine services are being offered in the Region Eight communities, as per the reports.

“In the affected villages, telemedicine capabilities have been installed to improve and deliver an expanded level of care to those communities”, Dr Anthony stated.

This training programme was attended by the Director of Family and Primary Health Care Services, Dr Ertinesia Hamilton; Mental Health Programme Coordinator, Dr Timothy Morgan; and Region Eight Regional Health Officer, Dr Ravindra Dudnauth.