Primary Health Care

Programme Objective

To ensure the Guyanese public have access to equitable, accessible, technically competent and socially acceptable primary health care.

Food and Nutrition – Food Policy Unit
Director: Ms. Norma Howard
Tel #: 592 222 5720/4417-18

Nutrition Surveillance

Goal

Train nutrition surveillance officers in use of Risk Mapping concept

Equip selected community personnel with knowledge and skills for disseminating nutrition information requested by communities

Nutrition Education

Goal

To improve Public Awareness of nutrition issues including the promotion of healthy lifestyle principles and practices

Anaemia Education

Goal

To reduce the incidence of Anaemia in women and children.

Tasks

• Provide health workers with information and skills for the management and control of Anaemia.
• Train health workers in the use of the haemocue photometer for testing Hb at the Health centres
• Provide support for the anaemia programme in Matthews Ridge/ Arakaka Area
• Reproduce anaemia and Iron and you leaflets and posters for dissemination and distribution
• Train health workers in the use of the Protocol in the detection and prevention of Iron Deficiency Anaemia
• Monitor use of the Protocol in the detection and prevention of Iron deficiency Anaemia
• Train community leaders and health workers in implementation of Anaemia Education in the communities.
• Provide Nutrition Education at Health Centre for the Ante natal women and chronic disease clients
• Train health workers in nutrition education at GPHC

Breastfeeding Education

Goal

To promote, protect and support the culture of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and the continuation of breastfeeding with complementary feeding for up to two years.

Tasks

• Conduct monthly National Breastfeeding Committee Meetings
• Conduct the annual National, Regional, Hospital and NGO Breastfeeding Committee Meeting and End of year evaluation exercise
• Conduct Breastfeeding Education Sessions to mothers attending Maternal and Child Health Clinics in the Regions
• Monitor the Baby Friendly Hospitals Monitor and evaluate hospitals working towards the achievement of the Baby Friendly Hospital Status Conduct Training of Trainers Sessions for a cadre of Health Workers from Regions 1,2,3,4,5, 6,7,8,9 and 10 in Breastfeeding: HIV and infant feeding counselling.
• Conduct Training of Trainers Sessions for a cadre of Health Workers in Breastfeeding counselling.
• Develop, pre-test and distribute Breastfeeding Education materials to Health Centres, Hospitals, Support Groups and the General Public
• Highlight the observance of Breastfeeding Awareness Week in Regions,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 10.
• Conduct home visits to promote exclusive breastfeeding through counselling of mothers and encourage families to support breastfeeding.
• Conduct In Service Training Sessions with Community Nutrition Officers and Nutrition Auxiliary Workers (updates)

Environmental Health
Director: Dr Ashok Sookdeo
Tel#: 592 226 5861 ext 248

Goal

To improve/promote the physical, mental and social status of all Guyanese by monitoring environmental health conditions which are responsible for environmental related diseases/conditions.

Duties

• To ensure that acceptable Environmental Health standards are maintained by all citizens
• To investigate all public health complaints reported to officers.
• Ensure a safe supply of food to consumers
• Monitoring the supply of water from underground to tap.