Community Health Workers (CHW) from various communities in Region Nine, on Friday received tool kits for improved antenatal care as the Ministry of Public Health continues its fight against maternal and child deaths, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.
The kits worth more than two million dollars were made possible through an Inter-American Development Bank US$8M loan to Guyana in February 2017. The loan caters for the improvement of the quality of reproductive healthcare delivery in Guyana.
At a handing over ceremony at the Lethem Regional Hospital, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence said “A woman dying during childbirth is not good for a community or country at large. We must take this giant step to ensure that our women do not die. We want zero maternal deaths in Region Nine, immediately”.
DPI said that the ministry has already trained several persons from Region Nine to become CHWs and deliver improved maternal and child health services in their region.
The CHWs who have returned to serve their communities and work with the midwives, hail from Nappi, Kumu, Annai and Moco Moco villages among others.
This training will bridge the gap between the coastland and hinterland and ensure that all citizens benefit from quality care, Lawrence said.
Regional Executive Officer, Kerwin Ward expressed gratitude to the government for intervening to improve the health care situation in Region Nine.
He stated that the kits will definitely improve health care in the region.
On her visit to the region, Lawrence was accompanied by Director of the Maternal and Child Health Programme of MoPH, Dr. Ertenesia Hamilton, Member of Parliament, John Adams and Regional Health Officer (AG), Dr. Alex D’Aguiar along with other officials from the MoPH, DPI said.
