The United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF] yesterday morning handed over a donation of 5,040 doses of paxlovid medication valued at $100m to the Ministry of Health [MoH]. Paxlovid is administered to persons infected with the COVID-19 virus.
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said that the medication will reduce the hospitalisation time for persons infected with the COVID-19 virus.
“Making this medication available to Guyana is another milestone in our fight against COVID-19. We acknowledge the role of UNICEF in strengthening the COVID-19 campaign”, a release from the Ministry of Health quoted him as saying.
UNICEF’s Deputy Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Irfan Akhtar stated that UNICEF is committed to ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 therapies.
“These life-saving medicines have not been widely accessible to low and middle-income countries because of cost and availability. Our partners have been working to ensure that these countries benefit, including Guyana”, Akhtar explained. MoH’s release said that the medication will be distributed across the various regions of Guyana.
