Guyana today received 55,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines procured through support from Canada.
A release from the Canadian High Commission said that the vaccines were received at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri by Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Advisor to the Minister of Health; Political Counselor at the High Commission of Canada, Caroline Mireault and Officer in Charge at PAHO/WHO, Daniel Albert.
According to the release, High Commissioner of Canada, Mark Berman, applauded the efforts of the Government of Guyana in ensuring that vaccines are available for everyone in the country.
“The Government of Guyana has done tremendous work to ensure the availability and access of vaccines to the people in need. But we also recognize that the migrant populations have also put an additional weight on the health care system. As such, Canada is proud to be able to provide this support to the Ministry of Health in an effort to ensure the entire population could be served,” he stated.
Earlier this year Canada had announced a contribution of CDN $50 million to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO). Canada’s contribution includes targeted support of at least CDN $6M to the Caribbean, given the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on small island developing states. The funding is also supporting national efforts to introduce COVID-19 vaccines and reaching populations living in situations of vulnerability, particularly women and migrants.
In Guyana, since the start of the pandemic, through PAHO , the release said that Canada has procured PPEs, provided thousands of testing kits and equipment, supported training to strengthen diagnostic testing and sample taking, supported mental health psychosocial support campaigns and risk communication and also provided essential cleaning and sanitation supplies.