Guyana has been lauded by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) for its exceptional immunization coverage in 2023, marking a significant achievement in the country’s healthcare efforts. The commendation came in an official correspondence from Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, WHO Regional Director for the Americas, recognizing the strides made by Guyana in ensuring robust immunization rates across the nation.
In the letter, Dr. Barbosa stated, “The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) wishes to congratulate the Co-operative Republic of Guyana for the encouraging results in routine immunization coverage obtained in the last year, as reported in the Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) published by WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).”
Guyana’s success in this area is particularly noteworthy given the geographical challenges the country faces. Despite being divided into 10 administrative regions—four of which are classified as hinterland regions that are hard-to-reach and sparsely populated—the Ministry of Health has effectively managed its nationwide vaccination programme.
Under the Expanded Programme on Immunization, the ministry administers vaccines for 17 antigens, including critical vaccines against Whooping Cough, Measles, Poliomyelitis, and Yellow Fever, among others.
This achievement reflects the dedication of both leadership and healthcare professionals in Guyana, as well as the strength of the healthcare system and the government’s unwavering commitment to health investment. The success of Guyana’s immunization programme plays a crucial role in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases and epidemics, which, in turn, helps ensure that key sectors of the economy continue to operate without disruptions caused by public health crises.
Importantly, Guyana’s impressive immunization coverage has also contributed to the Region of the Americas being the only WHO region to surpass immunization levels that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic. This regional success is a testament to the collective efforts of countries like Guyana in prioritizing public health and safeguarding their populations.
However, PAHO/WHO also emphasized the need for continued progress to maintain this momentum. There is an ongoing necessity to restore the region to the forefront of global immunization coverage and to further advance strategies aimed at eliminating communicable diseases. Guyana’s success in 2023 sets a strong foundation, but ongoing efforts and vigilance will be crucial in sustaining and building upon these achievements in the years to come.
