Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran says Guyana has already started exploring ways to improve every aspect of food security, quality and policies and has achieved a number of UN food goals in this endeavour.
GINA said that he was delivering an address at the World Health Day 2015 symposium hosted by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and its partners at the National Cultural Centre last week.
This year’s observance was held under the theme ‘From Farm to Plate, Make Food Safe’ in keeping with the entire progress of the chain, from production to consumption.
In keeping with its 10-year food security strategy, government is collaborating with a number of agencies in this undertaking and is working with schools to teach children healthy eating habits, though more private sector participation is necessary. Further, he said, the ministry recently strengthened its food and drugs department and seized a quantity of damaged and expired food items which were to be marketed earlier this year. Ramsaran expressed gratitude to the collaborating agencies, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture.
In his address, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said the local life expectancy rate has increased, which he attributed to improved sanitation, better quality of water and food security. The minister underscored the importance of agriculture in food security and acknowledged that many times agricultural produce is sprayed with chemicals that can harm the body. “This poses a challenge, as many countries, which are food importers, demand that the foods be sprayed before entering their countries, ignoring the fact that this can be harmful to consumers in some cases,” he said.
A former health minister, GINA said that Ramsammy also expounded on the difference between food security and nutrition security, noting that they are two different issues that can influence each other. He spoke about the importance of antibiotics and its vital role in increasing life expectance globally, as well as the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). “AMR occurs when bacteria acquire a genetic mutation, making it resistant to the effects of one or more antimicrobial agents (forms of antibiotics) that were once effective,” he said, noting that by year-end about 700, 000 persons, mainly in developing countries, will die from this resistance.
The minister called on the United Nations to establish a governmental body, similar to that on climate change, to address the issue.
He then lauded Guyana’s progressive vaccination programme and urged the relevant agencies to keep up the good work. Ramsammy also called for more efforts to improve the quality of water and the protection of antibiotics. In her remarks, Angela Alleyne, Assistant Representative, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), pledged the institution’s continued support to the fight.
