THE National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) yesterday honoured over 40 health workers from its Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Centres around Guyana, and others involved in the work of HIV, for their dedicated service and invaluable contribution towards the success of the local programme.

The ceremony was held at NAPS headquarters, Hadfield Street as part of the activities in observance of World AIDS Day 2007 to be observed on Saturday. It was attended by a modest and keenly enthusiastic gathering of health care officials and others signaling their appreciation for the work of the programme in Guyana.

Among the distinguished gathering were, Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, NAPS Programme Manager – Dr. Shanti Singh, Director of Maternal and Child Health – Dr. Janice Woolford, Coordinator PMTCT – Ms. Debra Vitalis, top functionaries of GHARP, FXB and other Members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Dr. Ramsammy commended the awardees, and noted that the gesture of honouring such persons at this time each year, constitutes a growing emphasis on the part of the Ministry of Health to recognise the commitment and hard work of its health workers throughout the country.

Observing that Guyana has this year improved on its standing, in terms of the best countries in which to live, Minister Ramsammy opined that this, in part, has to do with Guyana’s improving health services. And this he credited to the performance of health workers, among other things.

“The most important reason why our health service continues to improve is the continuing dedication and commitment of the health workers of Guyana...” Dr. Ramsammy declared.

He added: “On behalf of the people of Guyana, the Ministry of health is paying tribute to all health workers of our country.”

He asked that each of the awardees received the honour being bestowed upon them, on behalf of themselves and all the other health workers on the teams with which they work.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister expressed confidence that with the marked reduction in the number of new cases of HIV locally, Guyana’s HIV prevalence would have fallen below the 2 per cent mark. He said that several studies, including programmatic data and surveillance studies, have shown that the prevalence in the ante-natal population in Guyana has dropped to about 1.5 per cent.

“I think that in any way that we look at Guyana’s HIV/AIDS response, we have to be satisfied that much is being done,” he reiterated. The Minister concurred with Dr. Shanti Singh who earlier expressed satisfaction that the team at NAPS was working beyond the call of duty, adding that Guyana’s response to HIV demands a team with such commitment.

Reiterating his praise for the health workers, Dr. Ramsammy said his task was two-fold – to congratulate NAPS, as well, which has demonstrated that it has the capacity to lead the fight against HIV.

He alluded to times past when the Ministry of Health depended, almost entirely on various agencies such as PAHO, USAID, CDC, GHARP, FHI, and FXB for technical support, as well as executing programmes locally. He said that today, while the technical support is still there, NAPS has taken its role in leading the execution of the programme.

Meanwhile, NAPS Programme Manager, Dr. Shanti Singh congratulated and thanked not only the awardees, but all those who supported the programme, including their sponsors.

She noted that 2007 has been an extremely ‘intensive’ year for the Secretariat, with the introduction of several new initiatives.

New initiatives she said, include: Introducing entertainment in their Prevention programmes, the further expansion of the VCT programme with 17 new and refurbished sites, and 5 new operational sites. Also patient monitoring facilities are now in place. Much has also been achieved in the area of Treatment, Care and Support, and earlier this year a Food Bank to respond to the nutritional needs of 207 Persons Living with HIV/AIDS was opened in the compound of the NAPS. The number of Care and Support Groups she said, grew from four in 2006 to nine for this year. Dr. Singh expressed satisfaction that NAPS has achieved most of the targets they set themselves for the year 2007. While admitting that some things could have been done better, said asserted, “ ... but I believe that we have done them to the best of our ability.”

Other speakers included Dr. Janice Woolford, Maternal and Child Health and Ms. Debra Vitalis, Coordinator of PMTCT. Dr. Woolford who gave a highlight of the Maternal and Child Health programme, with special emphasis on the PMTCT Programme. She disclosed that Guyana is currently on target to meet its goal of Counselling and Testing. ( A report will be in tomorrow’s issue).

Ms. Vitalis who joined in congratulating the awardees introduced them, and gave a brief but impressive profile on each. The recipients were each presented with a specially designed gold pin in the shape of the HIV red ribbon.

Additionally, New Amsterdam and Linden Hospitals were each awarded a plaque of appreciation.