Cross section of trained advocates available for HIV/AIDS programmes
Georgetown, GINA, December 30, 2006
Government has over the years increased training of personnel to promote HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment and this has led to notable progress in the fight against the number one disease killer in the world.
In efforts to boost prevention, the Ministry of Health trained several stake holders from schools, churches and workplaces setting to be advocates for the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In April, the Methodist Churches of the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA) partnered with the Ministry of Health to initiate HIV/AIDS peer counselling sessions among its members.
The training provided education and awareness particularly to Methodist youths to strengthen their willpower to foster behaviour changes and sexual practices.
The Ministry of Health sees religions organisations as key agents in addressing HIV/AIDS because of their doctrines.
In the early part of 2006, nurses from Guyana and North America were part of a series of workshops aim at equipping them to provide comprehensive and optimal care to people infected with HIV/AIDS.
Case studies, discussions and interactions on methods of prevention and administering care and treatment have increased the knowledge and experiences of many of the workers to become pioneers in the HIV/AIDS fight.
The training encompassed the administration of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs, which have been scientifically proven to increase the lifespan of persons living with the disease.
Treatment is now readily available in all regions and more than 15,000 persons are on treatment, and can now have a routine assessment of their immune system.
HIV/AIDS programmes have also been extended to the dental profession and more than 100 dentists and dental workers from the various regions have been trained to administer care and treatment.
Soon all dental centres in Guyana will be providing this service and referring patients to public hospitals.
There are now more than 85 voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) sites across the country, all of which are administered by professional certified VCT workers. On the national day of testing which was held on November 17, more than 1000 persons were tested by these workers.
According to Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy, workplace programmes have more than doubled in the past year with some 25 active programmes in the workplace that ensure workers and their families are tested.
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Government committed to providing for street dwellers
- $400M facility to be constructed next year
Georgetown, GINA, December 30, 2006
Living up to its commitment to provide a secure shelter for the indigent in Guyana, the government in 2007 will be working to ensure that this commitment is fulfilled.
This is according to Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo who disclosed on December 28, that his administration will be establishing a $400M shelter to house the homeless and destitute in the coming year.
Although the President did not disclose the location, he explained that the design for the building has already been completed.
Meanwhile, according to Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand, government is currently accommodating more than 100 persons at the Night Shelter which began offering 24 hours of service from October 1.
The Minister, who was at the time updating the media on the achievements of the Ministry for the past year, explained that this new programme is aimed at keeping street dwellers off the street and encouraging them to participate in the rehabilitation programmes offered by Government.
According to her, other government Ministries including the Ministries of Home Affairs and Health will be collaborating with the Human Services Ministry on the implementation of programmes that will result in street people being taken into a home. Special focus will be placed on them reuniting with their families.
Special programmes will be instituted for those who are mentally challenged and examinations will be conducted on them before placing them in a mental institution, the Minister said.
Previously the Night Shelter only accommodated persons during the night and provided them with dinner and breakfast. Counselling and other services are provided at the shelter.
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Pensioners to receive grants after January 4, 2007
Georgetown, GINA, December 30, 2006
Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand is advising pensioners countrywide not to visit the post offices before January 4, 2007 to collect their pensions.
At a press conference yesterday at the Ministry’s Water Street office, Minister Manickchand said that the Ministry is currently working with the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) to ensure pensioners receive their grants early.
“We do not want the pensioners to waste their time and go to the post offices only to be told that they can’t get their pensions until later in the month. We are also asking those pensioners who can’t go to the post offices for their pensions to authorize someone to collect on their behalf,” Minister Manickchand said.
The Ministry has completed approximately 71 percent of the distribution of Old Age pension books for 2007. The process started in November this year in order to avoid delays in payments.
Effective January 2007 pensioners will benefit from five percent increase in their pensions. In 2005, they were granted a hefty 75 percent increase.
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Diversification critical to agricultural development
- NARI’s Director
Georgetown, GINA, December 30, 2006.
It is crucial that Guyana improve marketing of its traditional agricultural exports and increase marketability of non-traditional crops to ensure sustainable development.
This is according to Director of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Dr. Oudhu Homenauth.
He noted that government’s agricultural policy supports increased earnings from traditional exports of rice and sugar while encouraging production of domestic food commodities and non-traditional exports.
Guyana’s agricultural diversification programme focuses on the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, livestock production and fisheries including aquaculture. Production of value-added products from these commodities and agro-industrial development are also being addressed.
The agricultural sector contributes more than 30 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounts for 43 percent of its total earnings and provides employment for over 70 percent of the population.
Over the past years, CARICOM countries, including Guyana enjoyed preferential markets for their agricultural products to major importing countries. This was facilitated through various bilateral and multilateral trade regimes.
However, due to increasing globalization and changing global trade regimes, these preferential markets are no
longer valid and this is now placing significant pressure on agricultural exports from CARICOM countries.
Dr. Homenauth explained that these economies, having long enjoyed preferential treatment in major markets, are now challenged by account of low competitiveness as compared to nations producing similar products in other parts of the world.
Small developing states are particularly vulnerable since they are faced with emerging market conditions and new trade regimes, taking into consideration that trade accounts for a very large share of their economic activity.
It is therefore important that these economies effectively and efficiently diversify their agriculture to achieve sustainable development, Dr. Homenauth emphasized.
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Citizens’ Security programme for early next year
Georgetown, GINA, December 30, 2006
Plans are underway for the establishment of a Citizens’ Security Programme (CSP early next year to further aid in the reduction and prevention of criminal activities, and to boost the capabilities of law enforcement agencies.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said the Ministry will be approaching community leaders to ensure they work towards this programme in order to make it successful. It is hoped that there will be a greater relationship with the police and community.
“We will be calling on community leaders to play a much more active role in the citizens’ security project for its establishment. They will have to help establish forums through which we will be discussing community projects that will enhance security and law and order,” Minister Rohee explained.
According to the Minister, the CSP will employ a multi-dimensional approach to crime prevention, crime reduction and crime fighting.
The Citizens’ Security Programme is also expected to assist the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force as well as communities, through technical and financial support. Getting a better understanding of the crime situation will enable more efficient solutions to violence and crime in Guyana and this is what the program is aiming to do.
A survey of pilot communities is ongoing to ascertain the relationship and attitudes related to crime and violence. Domestic violence and community/police relationships will also be addressed.
The four pilot communities which were selected include, Rose Hall Town, Tain/Port Mourant, Buxton/Annandale, and Sophia.
“Early next year we will be approaching Sophia to establish a forum to discus all security issues,” Minister Rohee said.
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