A comprehensive plan to modernise the local health sector was on Monday unveiled at an elaborate ceremony at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.
Dubbed Health Vision 2020 – the plan is a national health strategy for Guyana for the period 2013-2020. The strategy aims to make persons resident in Guyana the healthiest people in the Caribbean and the Americas by the year 2020, officials said.
The plan was launched by Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran; Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud; and President Donald Ramotar.
Dr Persaud presented a snapshot of the vision, which he said is designed to modify health care and put the country’s health sector at an international level. The CMO noted that the vision caters for not only Guyanese but other nationalities living in the country.
“The mission is to create an enabling framework for full participation in leadership and integrated health services to deliver quality, efficient and responsive health services and prevention measures also… and to improve the physical mental and social well-being of all the people of Guyana,” Persaud stated.
The CMO explained that the Health Vision 2020 was developed based on a number of locally recognised declarations, including the United Nations Human Rights Declarations.
He further stated that the objectives of the Health Vision 2020 are close to those of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He noted when the plan comes to an end in 2020, it is expected that Guyana will be up to par with other Caribbean countries in terms of health care.
Better health care
President Donald Ramotar, in his feature address, highlighted the importance of the health sector to a country’s economy. He pointed out that while Guyana has come a long way in terms of health-care services, there was still much more to be done.
Ramotar told the gathering that the government has invested billions to ensure quality healthcare services for the people of Guyana. “That gives you a better idea of our commitment to providing a better quality service for the people of our country and this is because of how important we see the health sector in the whole context of having a better quality of life. This sector has to play a very important role and I’m happy to see that central to the plan that you have and would implement is the question of preventative health care and that should always be the guiding principle,” the president stated.
President Ramotar said that with this plan, focus will now be placed on providing service to people of Guyana which is second to none.
Minister Ramsaran urged young doctors who were present at the launch to use the plan as a guide when practising medicine. He acknowledged all those who worked on creating Health Vision 2020 and those who will be monitoring the strategy to ensure that it is realised by its deadline.
Also speaking at the launch was Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) country representative, Zoila Fletcher-Payton, who said that Guyana is on its way to meeting the New Millennium Goal established for 2015 and with the implementation of Health Vision 2020, its health care services will be up to standard.
However, she noted that the vision needs the support of the government and society to be successful.
