‘Continue to provide a high quality of MCH service’ – Minister Cummings

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DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Karen Cummings today urged healthcare workers to deliver a continuously high quality of Maternal and Child Health service even as stakeholders of Public Health and their strategic partners go into two days of deliberations on maternal and child health and the expanded programme on immunization.

“I must commend Dr. Hamilton and her team for the diligent and thorough work they do, with the little resources available, to ensure that the quality of our Maternal and Child Health services is of the best that is available in Guyana. I urge that all of you continue to give committed and efficient service to ensure a healthy Guyana,” Minister Cummings said.

In addition, the Minister said the government is committed to reducing child mortality rates through the provision of improved services across the nation. Minister Cummings said the administration recognises that the fact that the risk of maternal and infant mortality and pregnancy-related complications can be reduced by increasing access to quality preconception (before pregnancy) and inter-conception (between pregnancies).

According to the Minister, “Every mother deserves a healthy, full-term pregnancy, and every baby should have an opportunity to survive and thrive! As health professionals in the Guyana Public Health system, this goal must be our priority,”

One of the focal points for the Ministry of Public Health in 2017 was the institutional strengthening of

the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) component of the Ministry of Public Health through a variety of innovative capacity building initiatives.

“The Ministry of Public Health embarked on strengthening the primary level health care provided in Regions Three, Four and Nine. This enterprise commenced with the US$8M project that will continue to contribute significantly towards the reduction in maternal, perinatal and neonatal deaths in Guyana,” Minister Cummings added.

Some of the key components of the institutional strengthening of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) project were to improve the supply chain management for new types of contraceptives, drugs and blood products; upgrading maternity waiting homes; significantly improving health literacy; training of health workers; and engaging in substantial capacity building within the entire MCH Unit.

The MCH/EPI quarterly review meeting is being held in collaboration with PAHO / WHO at the Grand Coastal Hotel.

 

By: Kidackie Amsterdam