Guyana is set to receive US$1.8 million from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to assist with managing COVID-19 in the country.
This was disclosed by Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony yesterday during his daily COVID-19 update where he stated that Guyana has been successful in its application for funding from the Global Fund which he noted has been one of the traditional partners in health.
“We started that application about a month ago and we have put it in and as of two days ago Guyana has been successful. They have written to us acknowledging that our proposal has been very successful and so they will be funding us for the things that we requested,” Anthony informed.
He explained that what Guyana requested were resources to enhance intensive care capability at all regional hospitals in the country. The funds will assist health authorities here to add ICU beds, procure monitors and ventilators, and also create spaces to manage COVID-19 patients with the severe form of the virus.
“It will also assist us in procuring monitors and ventilators and create a space in each one of the regional hospital so that we can manage patients with severe COVID. So we are expecting about 1.8 million US dollars over the next couple of months to be able to do these activities,” Anthony was quoted as saying.
The minister added that in the coming days the ministry will be working along with the Global Fund as it relates to procuring items and handling other administrative processes that are necessary.
During the update, Dr Anthony also revealed that the ICU capacity at the country’s infectious disease facility at Liliendaal has recently been expanded. The ICU which previously had space for 25 patients now has a 35-bed capacity.
