Guyana elected to WHO Executive Board

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence was elected Monday to the Executive Board of the global World Health Organisation (WHO) giving Guyana a voice in helping to shape global health policies.

The WHO Executive Board has oversight responsibility for implementing decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly (WHA) which is an advisory body to facilitate WHO’s work, the Public Health Ministry noted in a statement.

Minister Lawrence will serve in the position for the next three years. The WHO Executive Board comprises 34 individuals and meets twice annually: in January and May. The 145th session of the Executive Board will meet in Geneva next week for a two-day meeting.

“The honour of serving in this esteemed position affords Guyana the opportunity to shape global and regional health policies and to bring more health-system resources to Guyana and the region of the Americas, thereby improving health care access and services to all its residents,” Guyana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and International Organisations, Geneva John R.D. Ford said in a statement announcing Lawrence’s election to WHO body, according to the Public Health Ministry.

Minister Lawrence is currently attending her third WHA conference and has helped establish Guyana “as a strong advocate for Universal Health Care to bring improved access and quality health care to all Guyana’s citizens, especially those most vulnerable,” Ford’s was quoted as saying by the Ministry.