Director General of the Ministry of Health Dr. Vishawa Mahadeo delivers remarks at the handover of anthropometric equipment. Photo credit UNICEF Guyana & Suriname/F. Robinson.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana--In an effort to improve the health and nutrition of children under the age of four across Guyana, UNICEF handed over more than 300 pieces of anthropometric equipment to the Ministry of Health at the Ministry’s Bond in Kingston, Georgetown, on Friday, January 17.
The equipment consists of 150 beam scales, 102 infant scales, 102 length/height boards and one cardiotocography (CTG) monitor – used to monitor foetal heartbeat and uterine contractions during pregnancy and labour – and will be utilised in health centres throughout the country, empowering healthcare professionals to effectively monitor and assess children’s growth and development. It will enable evidence-based interventions to ensure that every child, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to thrive.
Nicolas Pron, Area Representative of UNICEF Guyana and Suriname, during the simple handover ceremony, said the equipment will result in better care for Guyana’s children, while strengthening communities.
“At UNICEF, we are deeply committed to supporting the government of Guyana in advancing the health and development of its youngest citizens. We know that investing in nutrition during these early years is one of the most powerful ways to break the cycle of poverty, improve health outcomes and strengthen communities,” Pron said.
Receiving the equipment, Dr. Vishawa Mahadeo, Director General at the Ministry of Health, said that good developmental tracking is critical in determining the health of Guyana’s children as well as ensuring that any and all interventions thereafter are evidence-based.
“The equipment being handed over today [Friday, January 17 – Ed.] is vital for community health workers as they assess the nutritional status and overall health of Guyana’s children,” Bood said.
The procurement and handover of the anthropometric equipment comes as part of the broader project, “Promoting Safe and Healthy Learning and Living Environments to Migrant and Host Communities in Guyana’s Hinterland and Selected Coastal Areas”, that is funded by the government of Canada.
The project underscores the critical importance of early childhood development and focuses particularly on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life – a period that sets the foundation for lifelong health, learning and well-being. ~ UNICEF Guyana & Suriname ~
