In observance of World Health Day 2025, Dr. Karen Cummings, Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Health for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), issued a statement highlighting the importance of promoting safe motherhood and healthy pregnancies as part of the global efforts to prevent maternal and infant deaths.
World Health Day, celebrated annually on April 7, has its roots in 1948 and aims to raise awareness about global health issues. The theme for 2025, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” focuses on ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and newborns. Dr. Cummings emphasised that while Guyana made strides, challenges persist, and more must be done to address the pressing issue of maternal and infant health.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 2.3 million neonates die within the first 28 days of life, and another 2 million are stillborn. Dr. Cummings noted that while the 2025 budget includes provisions for a world-class Paediatric and Maternal Hospital, which aims to provide comprehensive neonatal and paediatric care, there are still several hurdles that must be overcome for this initiative to have a lasting impact.
Dr. Cummings stressed the need for increased awareness about sexual and reproductive health in schools, targeting vulnerable populations such as young girls, many of whom give birth before the age of 15. She called for the introduction of comprehensive Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials in schools at all levels, including primary and secondary schools, to help foster a better understanding of safe motherhood practices. Additionally, she advocated for robust campaigns to encourage early prenatal care, with incentives for mothers who seek timely medical attention.
Addressing the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in the country, Dr. Cummings highlighted the ongoing issue of healthcare workers, including nurses, migrating abroad in search of better opportunities. She called for immediate efforts to build capacity, train competent health personnel, and retain skilled staff by addressing the underlying factors that drive migration. She also called for regular monitoring and evaluation of healthcare workers to ensure they comply with established protocols and guidelines.
Guyana’s decentralised healthcare system, while advantageous in some ways, has presented challenges in ensuring consistent quality of care, especially in rural and remote areas. Dr. Cummings emphasized the importance of ensuring that regional hospitals and healthcare workers adhere to the Package of Publicly Guaranteed Health Services. She also stressed the need for better coordination between regional hospitals and Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, especially when it comes to handling high-risk pregnancies.
On this World Health Day, Dr. Cummings expressed her hope that the immunization successes of the Maternal and Child Health Department would continue and that priority would be given to narrowing the healthcare inequities that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. She concluded by reaffirming the importance of ensuring that Guyana’s mothers and infants not only survive but thrive, with the full support of a robust healthcare system dedicated to their well-being.
On this World Health Day 2025, Dr. Cummings called for collective focus on improving the lives of mothers and infants, ensuring that they are not only saved but given the opportunity to thrive and transform their futures. “The work to achieve this must be a national priority,” the parliamentarian asserted.
Dr. Cummings’ full statement below:-
WORLD HEALTH DAY 2025 – PNCR/APNU Message by Dr. Karen Cummings, MP, Shadow Minister of Health.
World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, has its genesis in 1948. This day is set apart to raise awareness and highlight global health issues. The theme for World Health Day 2025 is captioned as I quote “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures” close quote. Countries worldwide are asked to promote safe motherhood and healthy pregnancies and thus prevent the premature deaths of mothers and newborns.
According to the World Health Organisation (2025), over 2.3 million neonates die in the first twenty-eight days of life and 2 million are stillbirth. It is interesting to note that Budget 2025 caters for a “new world class Paediatric and Maternal Hospital to provide a range of neonatal and paediatric care and treatment services. However, for this theme to become a reality, several challenges that impede the improvement in Maternal and Infant Health must be addressed.
Considering the various obstacles to Safe Motherhood, there should be more awareness in schools about Sexual and Reproductive Health. The appropriate Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials should be placed at the Nursery, Primary, and Secondary levels in our schools to target vulnerable groups – as babies are born to children under 15 years of age. Robust campaigns should be carried out and occasional incentives be given to mothers who seek early prenatal care.
With the current reality being a constant and steady migration of nurses and other health care professionals, valiant efforts must be made not only to build capacity and competent health care personnel, but to retain competent staff with correct attitudes. In addition, there must be continual monitoring and evaluation of health personnel who do not comply with protocols and guidelines to ensure that the errant is held accountable.
As Guyana boasts a decentralised health care system, it is necessary and an imperative for the Regional Hospitals and health care workers be guided by the Package of Publicly Guaranteed health services. Routine tests for Antenatal Care Services should be carried out at upgraded labs. In addition, there should be better coordination and communication between the Regional Hospitals and the Only Referral Hospital – the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation especially when it comes to High-Risk Pregnancies.
On this World Health Day 2025, it is the wish that the immunization successes of the Maternal and Child Health Department be continued and sustained. Urgent priority must be given to ensure that the inequities and inequalities in health are narrowed, and the lives of our mothers and infants are not only saved but are allowed to thrive and be transformed in the future.
