By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Citing a growing “public health crisis,” President Dr. Irfaan Ali has ordered the Ministry of Health to launch an intensive, nationwide campaign within the next six weeks to tackle chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The initiative, announced during the commissioning of the Guyana Technical Training College Inc. over the weekend, aims to reach every single Guyanese citizen with a focus on preventative care and education.
The President’s directive comes as Guyana seeks to modernize its healthcare infrastructure to match its rapid economic growth.
The Battle Against Diabetes and Hypertension
President Ali identified diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) as the two primary targets of the upcoming campaign. He stressed that the government must move beyond hospital-based care and enter the “living rooms” of the citizens.
- Omnichannel Outreach: The campaign will utilize a mix of traditional flyers, television programs, and community-level outreach.
- Timeline: The Ministry of Health has been given a six-week deadline to have the full-scale operation running across all ten administrative regions.
- Holistic Strategy: The focus is on lifestyle changes, early screening, and accessible medication to reduce the strain on the national hospital system.
“We want a public health campaign with flyers, programmes, reaching every single citizen. We have to deal with this public health crisis,” the President declared.
A Regional Hub: The New Amsterdam Level-Five Teaching Hospital
A key component of the President’s healthcare vision is the construction of a level-five teaching hospital in New Amsterdam, Berbice. This facility is designed to move Guyana toward “medical tourism” and specialized care.
Key Features of the New Facility:
- Regional Cardiac Centre: The hospital will serve as a specialized hub for heart-related surgeries and treatments for the entire Caribbean region.
- Research Focus: As a “teaching hospital,” it will prioritize medical research into local health trends and the training of the next generation of Guyanese doctors.
- Advanced Capability: Level-five status indicates the highest tier of medical complexity, featuring advanced diagnostic imaging and intensive care units.
Faith-Based Integration
In a strategic move to ensure the campaign penetrates rural and traditionally “hard-to-reach” areas, the President has ordered the Ministry to integrate the religious community into the rollout.
- Rural Impact: By partnering with churches, masjids, and mandirs, the government hopes to leverage the trust and organizational structure of faith-based organizations to distribute health information and host screening clinics.
- Collective Action: The President emphasized that addressing NCDs requires a “collective societal effort” rather than just a governmental one.
“I want the religious community to be critically integrated in this campaign, especially in our rural areas,” President Ali noted, highlighting the influence of religious leaders in community life.
