Workshop held on Antimicrobial Resistance

The Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), held a two-day National Workshop on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial drugs. In light of this, the Ministry of Health, together with PAHO/ WHO, aims to develop a National AMR strategy, a release from the Ministry of Health said yesterday.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, emphasised the importance of creating this strategy, noting that AMR significantly impacts the delivery of healthcare services.

“If we are going to develop a public healthcare system that is truly comprehensive, then we can’t just focus on priorities; we must also consider other factors that affect how we deliver care.”

Present at the workshop were Nathalie El Omeiri, Advisor for AMR National Action Plans, PAHO/WHO; Daniel Albrecht, PAHO/WHO Representative a.i. in Guyana; Marcelo Galas, Specialist in AMR Surveillance; Dr Narine Singh, Chief Medical Officer; Dr Shazeema Shaw, AMR Focal Point, along with other consultants, directors, and Regional Health Officers (RHOs) within the Ministry of Health and PAHO/WHO.