President calls for emphasis on priorities of National Health Strategy
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anJ_fINBzn8?autoplay=1″ width=”560″ height=”315″]
– to achieve objectives of SDG Goal 3
– stresses need for preventative care in reducing health care costs
– Health Expo 2018 opens
DPI, GUYANA, Wednesday, May 30, 2018
President David Granger speaking at the opening ceremony of Health Expo 2018 today, said if Guyana is to achieve the objectives set out in Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG), it must project the three priorities on which our national healthy strategy is based.
These priorities include universal access to public health coverage, universal primary health care and preventative health care.
H.E. David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana makes a point during Health Expo 2018.
The Head of State restated his administration’s commitment to the objective of a better life with good health, in accordance with the SDG’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which speaks to healthy lives and human well-being.
Primary health care, he noted is a pillar of the national public health strategy, titled Health Vision 2020. “It is the vehicle for ensuring universal health coverage and is one of the bases for pursuing the national health agenda,” President Granger said.
The Neighbourhood Health Centres are the main providers of public health services within communities and the most accessible to the citizen, the President intimated, stressing the importance of them guaranteeing access to primary health care.
According to the Head of State, no public health system or national health strategy would be complete or successful without emphasis on preventative care.
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and his wife, Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo visiting a booth at Health expo 2018.
Characterised by alcohol and drug abuse, the excessive consumption of processed and fast food and lack of recreation and sport, Preventable lifestyle diseases, the President highlighted, have contributed to the increased the incidence of non-communicable diseases such as cancers, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and obesity.
These diseases, along with road and workplace accidents increases public health care costs and reduces human productivity.
Therefore, the Expo’s theme, “Reaching for a better life with good health,” he noted, “reminds us all of the indisputable connection between good health and a good life.”
Prevention, he emphasised is one of the principal means to improve citizens’ mental, physical and social wellbeing.
“It begins in the home, is reinforced at school and at work and is fortified at the national, regional and neighbourhood levels,” President Granger said.
Following the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon President Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, his wife Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo, Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence and other ministers of Government visited several booths at the Expo.
By: Stacy Carmichael
Photos by Keno George.