| By Sharmain GraingerIn an earnest attempt to redefine its malaria response, the Ministry of Health yesterday engaged a number of stakeholders even as it sought to expand the national conversation on the disease.This move comes even as the Ministry observes emerging challenges in what it describes as a “rapidly changing environment.”At a conference held at the Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara, Ministry officials were able to “engage longstanding and new partners in the national mobilization effort against malaria in order to better garner and synchronize their support as stakeholders.”Moreover, the forum will firmly position malaria on the front burner of the national agenda, according to Ministry officials.The conference was designed to address the Ministry of Health’s structure and systems in place to fight malaria; its achievements and new initiatives in the fight against malaria; new emerging challenges globally and locally in the fight against malaria; the economic impact of malaria and stakeholders’ participation,China Jerseys, support and initiatives.Among those in yesterday’s forum were representatives of Pan American Health Organisation World Health Organisation, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Forest Producers Association, Guyana Women Miners Association, Ministry of Education, Guyana Defence Force, National Toshaos Council, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Medical Council of Guyana, University of Guyana, Cyril Potter College of Education, Guyana Police Force and Media Practitioners. There were a number of school children in attendance too.The malaria conference in progress yesterdayThe need for collaboration is essential, since according to Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, “malaria is a serious public health threat. We have been able to drive malaria back into the hinterland areas and to make the coast habitable…but still malaria remains a serious public health threat.”He explained that the Ministry has been working on this notion for some time now, hence the need to streamline the conference to engage stakeholders’ support, and added that those involved in existing efforts have in fact done very well in helping to combat the disease over the years.Dr. Ramsaran insisted that the Government, through the ministry, has achieved significant gains in the fight against malaria,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, which was not without the support of international organisations such as the Pan American Health Organisation. He said too that Global Fund has in more recent times become a key international partner in the fight against AIDS with its technical and material assistance contributing significantly to the malaria prevention control campaign. This continued support, he said, will be critical to future control and prevention strategies.However, Minister Ramsaran noted that the Ministry of Health remains a major player in the national malaria prevention and control services campaign efforts. Moreover, the continuous contribution of respective international partners was slated to be presented and analysed at yesterday’s conference.According to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Guyana is one of the countries in the Americas that have been affected by malaria for many decades. He recounted that in the early sixties, Guyana was able to push malaria back to a state where “we saw on the horizon the possibility of elimination. However with the changes in our global picture also the global economy, we saw a lot more exploring and a lot more people moving into hinterland areas, and as such, an upsurge again.”Dr. Persaud disclosed that a number of regions, specifically Regions Two,Cheap World Cup Jerseys, Three, Six, Seven, Eight, parts of Nine and 10, are now considered highly endemic, with some amount of transmission taking place. He however noted that most of the coastal regions are free of malaria,Cheap Jerseys, a state that he insists the Ministry intends to retain.As such,Wholesale Jerseys, he explained that over the past few years the Ministry in collaboration with its partners has been intensifying efforts and has even brought the fight to the community level.“The community is where it really matters because malaria is no easy disease, even though for many of us who live on the coast it might just be another infection…but for persons who live in the areas where malaria can be devastating they lose loved ones, they lose time, and sometimes they are even hindered in progressing to a healthy life because of the threat of malaria or even malaria itself.”As such, Dr. Persaud pointed to the fact that in high endemic areas and countries, the World Health Organisation has very specific recommendations which are embraced by the local Health Ministry through its National Malaria Programme.“We have accepted those and have actually started to implement them over a number of years. We know of the effective use of long-lasting insect-treated nets and how well those can help to protect us, our families, including children and pregnant mothers, and miners and loggers from malaria… and we must not forget too that in these communities there are lots more than just miners and loggers, there are people who conduct lots of other businesses, too, that are also susceptible to malaria.”Dr. Persaud added that the WHO recommends that prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment with the right type of anti-malarial drugs should be done as early as possible and as completely as is recommended. This could,Wholesale Jerseys, however, be challenging, said Dr. Persaud,Cheap Authentic NFL Jerseys, thus the need for partnership with the communities. As such, he said that the recommendations coming out of the National Malaria Programme also complement the fight against malaria by the application of integrated vector management strategies, one of which is the interior residual spraying insecticide that can reduce the amount of mosquitoes that can attack those who are vulnerable.Other strategies to address the malaria situation, according to Dr. Persaud, are expected to be realised through collaboration among stakeholders. |
