-by Jordan Alkins

The Ministry of Health today graduated 19 new Medex, the first class in the programme’s 49-year history, to achieve a 100 percent success rate. 

Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony is urging the graduates to deliver coastland-standard care in the interior.

The Class of 2026 began training in January 2025 with 21 midwives from nine regions, 19 of whom completed the programme, achieving a 100 percent success rate among graduates.

Graduates will serve across several regions, including communities in Regions One, Six, Eight and Ten, as Guyana marks 49 years of the Medex programme.

Dr. Anthony told the 18 women and one man graduating that Guyana is building a new healthcare system where past standards are no longer acceptable.

“We don’t want that there are two different standards of care in Guyana. So what we want is whatever we can get on the coastline is a similar type of care that we can get in the interior of Guyana,” he said.

Dr. Anthony urged graduates to use the 130-site telemedicine network, uphold punctuality and professionalism, and work responsibly without supervision. 

“In today’s world, when you’re in there at the job, somebody can post it on Facebook. And then we’ll see it. Because that’s the world we live in. All of us now are under the microscope,” he said.
He said the Ministry aims to place a Medex at every health centre to deliver 116 services, including maternal and child health and chronic disease care, while enforcing HEARTS and diabetes guidelines and avoiding outdated drugs like Captopril.

For the 19 new Medex, the task is to bring quality healthcare to underserved communities, ensuring where people live do not determine the care they receive.