Over 70 public health, clinical practitioners excel in global health E-learning programme

Seventy-five Guyanese public health and clinical practitioners have been recognised for their dedication and commitment to advancing their skills in global health.

They were awarded certificates by the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) for successfully completing the University of Washington Global Health E-learning Programme on Friday at the Ministry of Health in Georgetown, Guyana.

The ceremony was hosted by Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony, Knowledge Coordinator, PANCAP Coordinating Unit (PCU).  She explained that the comprehensive programme, which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), covered a series of crucial areas, including policy development, leadership and management, economic evaluation, monitoring and evaluation, and policy management and advocacy in global health.

During her remarks, Dr Wendy Emanuelson Telgt, Director of the PCU, thanked USAID for their support in making the programme possible and highlighted Guyana’s high level of interest and participation in the programme.

In her remarks, Ms Helen Royer, Director of Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, underscored the significance of collaboration for better health outcomes for the people of the Caribbean Community. “This mammoth success is because of excellent partnerships, not only between USAID and PANCAP, the Ministry of Health and the University of Washington, but the wider global partnership,” stated Ms Royer, “It reflects the commitment of the Ministry of Health and by extension the Government of Guyana, to investing in the professional development and most importantly, the consistent dedicated efforts of you the awardees. Of note is the variety of disciplines that you were exposed to. These areas are pivotal to advancing the health infrastructure and will certainly contribute to better outcomes in your areas of expertise.”

The Director noted that the lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic have revealed the need for a paradigm shift, not only in health but across several disciplines, which will require a reorientation in Leadership and Management, Policy Development and Advocacy for Global Health, and a robust primary care system to develop the foundation of universal health coverage.

The Global Health E-learning Programme, facilitated by PANCAP, trained more than 499 individuals from 2021 to 2023.  Ms Adrienne Galanek, Chargé d’affaires of the United States Embassy, commended the initiative, highlighting USAID’s substantial investment of $189 Million in Guyana since 2004 to support HIV prevention, testing, care, and treatment services.

Galanek also highlighted PANCAP’s role in providing technical guidance and promoting best practices to achieve epidemic control across the Caribbean region.

Guyana's Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, extended congratulations to the graduates, emphasising the vital role continuous learning plays in enhancing patient care and outcomes. “I think for us in the health sector, it is quite important for us to be constantly learning…If we don’t keep ourselves updated constantly, then we can have problems," stated Dr Anthony, "I want to encourage persons to keep doing it because it is going to help you to widen your horizon and to be able to better perform at whatever job you are doing in the Ministry.”

He highlighted the government’s commitment to advancing clinical practices by establishing laws to ensure ongoing professional development for doctors and nurses.

PANCAP, serving as the regional mechanism coordinating the response to HIV in the Caribbean, operates under the guidance of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS 2019–2025.

View more highlights from the ceremony here.