The Ministry of Health’s Comprehensive Child and Young Health Programme (CYHP) has achieved noteworthy progress in its goal of screening nursery-aged children for underlying health conditions.
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, shared the program’s success during the ministry’s end-of-year press conference.
Launched in September 2023, the CYHP program, supported by the Mount Sinai Health System and Hess Corporation, has successfully screened 11,205 first and second-year nursery children for underlying health conditions.
Dr. Anthony provided detailed statistics, mentioning that 7,995 first-year nursery children and 3,210 second-year nursery children have been screened, with additional screenings planned.
The initiative focuses on screening children for hearing, dental, and general health complications.
Following the screenings, children identified with health issues will receive the necessary aid to enhance their daily lives.
Minister Anthony emphasized the establishment of a management system within the ministry to ensure the smooth operation of the program.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the CYHP program aims to address health concerns at an early stage, focusing on screening children entering school.
Dr. Anthony highlighted the program’s role in preventing chronic non-communicable diseases in Guyana, taking a holistic approach to child health.
The ministry’s goal is to extend the screening program to cover 27,000 nursery-level children, with plans for future expansion to primary and secondary levels.