-to promote preventative care
The Ministry of Health is moving to transform how Guyanese access care with the opening of the new Wellness Centre at Eccles.
The facility is intended to change the long-standing practice of patients seeking medical help only after becoming ill, instead encouraging a culture of prevention through regular annual check-ups and targeted monitoring. Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony says the centre represents a deliberate shift in the country’s healthcare approach.
“[When someone gets sick] they come to us. And that’s, in some terms, that’s providing sick care. We want to change that concept and we want to keep people healthier, so that they avoid getting sick to come to use,” the health minister said.
The Wellness Centre will offer chronic disease monitoring, and expanded services for HPV infection screening and other screenings and treatment in both women and men.
Mammogram services are also being strengthened to support early detection of breast cancer. Dr. Anthony emphasised that improving not just lifespan but “health span” is a major priority for the health sector.
“We don’t want to promote obesity. We want to promote the reduction of obese people in the world. Because obesity is also a risk factor for a lot of these chronic diseases,”
The minister also encouraged citizens to adopt healthier eating habits, reduce ultra-processed foods, and pay closer attention to portion sizes.
