-by Celestine Chacon
The Ministry of Health today signed a US$1.78 million Service Delivery Agreement with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, marking another significant step in advancing the implementation of the Guyana One Health Project.
Funded through the Pandemic Fund Grant and an International Development Association Credit, the agreement will support targeted technical activities including laboratory strengthening, improved disease surveillance and emergency response, workforce training, and multisectoral coordination.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, welcomed the continued partnership, highlighting the project’s strong focus on expanding Guyana’s public health workforce.
“During COVID this whole place was shut down people were scared. They didn’t know what to do. We now have the opportunity to train people to manage these type of situation,” he noted.
The Minister also hailed the strong partnership between PAHO and the Ministry of Health in improving health systems.
“Our relationship with PAHO has been one where we basically draw technical systems from them, but now we’re doing something a little bit different where they’re now being in a way contracted to help us implement some of these systems. I don’t think we have ever had that type of relationship before,” he said.
The Guyana One Health Project is designed to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. It will improve emergency preparedness, and enhance coordination across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors.