(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) Several Regional agencies including the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI), the Caribbean Environment Health Institute (CEHI), and the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) have committed to immediate health assistance to Guyana in the wake of floods that have affected much of the country's coastal and rural communities and the capital city, Georgetown.
Following an inter-agency meeting convened at the CARICOM Secretariat, in Georgetown on Friday, 28 January to discuss the Community's immediate, medium and long-term interventions, a press briefing was held to update the media on the paramount issues pertaining the relief effort, namely food and health safety, availability of pure water and management of waste disposal.
The interface by representatives of the agencies with the media followed directly on comments from CARICOM Secretary-General H.E Edwin Carrington that in a year when the Community planned to celebrate significant milestones, namely the inauguration of the new CARICOM Secretariat's Headquarters building, the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market by there Member States of the Community, and the inauguration of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), just two weeks into a new year, the Community was faced with responding to the unprecedented flooding in Guyana.
In addressing the media following an emergency meeting on the Regional response to the health situation in Guyana as a result of the floods, the CARICOM Secretary-General added that the magnitude of the environmental, social and economic impact on Guyana was significant. He added that the Caribbean Community would continue to play its part.
As part of its immediate response, Director of CAREC, Dr James Hospedales told the media that his agency plans to assist the Guyana Government through the strengthening of the country's laboratory capacity to tackle parasitic and food and water-borne diseases. A two-member team is expected to arrive in Guyana soon to intensify the agency's public education and awareness food safety programme to convey food safety messages aimed at improving food handling practices.
As the lead Regional disaster response agency, CDERA has obtained a $100,000 contribution from the CDB for the Guyana Government to assist the most affected communities. Director of CDERA, Mr. Jeremy Collymore said his agency has received several Regional pledges of assistance for Guyana, and will coordinate relief efforts with the Guyana agencies set up to coordinate relief activities.
The Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) has signalled its support for Guyana in the areas of food safety, market access and security monitoring especially among vulnerable groups, in light of the daily large scale food preparation and distribution of food to persons affected by the floods. Food Economist of the CFNI, Dr Ballayram told the media that the agency intends to advance a programme of public education, with specific attention to nutritional food value as a component of its education drive, which it will coordinate with CAREC and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI). The CFNI also plans to participate in an environmental impact assessment to direct responses to flood hit areas.
Meanwhile, CEHI stands prepared to assist Guyana in the immediate future through the shipping in of mobile laboratory from Canada to assist with on-site disease treatment. CEHI's Executive Director, Mr. Vincent Sweeney said the agency also has access to a portable water purification system suitable for one affected community. He informed the media that his agency is also willing to deploy the expertise of an environmental officer to Guyana to advise on issues of shelter management and sanitation. In the medium to long-term, CEHI has identified training for Guyanese laboratory technicians as an area of assistance to enhance the country's capacity for disease treatment and prevention. CEHI has also identified water quality monitoring and purification as additional areas of expertise that it could render to the Guyana Government.
Resident Representative of the PAHO/WHO in Guyana, Dr. Bernadette Theodore Ghandi said PAHO has launched an international appeal for assistance for Guyana, and has obtained $100,000 Euros from the European Commission (EC) for the Guyana Government to offset relief efforts. She pointed out that as a member of the Guyana task force on health, PAHO has been working closely with the Joint Operation Centre (JOC) and the Civil Defense Commission to assist flood-hit areas in monitoring health conditions.
Contact:
Rose Blenman
Email: rblenman@caricom.org
Carolyn Walcott
cwalcott@caricom.org
