US$22M Pandemic Fund to help with research, surveillance of viruses

Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony revealed during the ministry’s yearend press conference on Tuesday that Guyana is expected to access the US$22 million Pandemic Fund from March 2025.

The funding includes a US$15 million grant from the Pandemic Fund, facilitated by the World Bank in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), with an additional US$7 million in co-funding from the World Bank.

“The Pandemic Fund was established after COVID to look at how countries can better for future pandemics and right now the fund has about US$1.5 billion and they have been doing calls for proposals from different countries,” Dr. Anthony said.

In 2024, Guyana submitted its proposal and were successful in securing funding.

“So, Guyana now has access to US$15 million which by March [2025] we should be able to start accessing,” the health minister said.

Dr. Anthony revealed that Guyana will focus on disease surveillance in both human and animal populations.

“We want to make sure that if there is a disease in the animal population that jumps over to the human population that we will be able to detect that,” he explained.

Key initiatives include enhancing laboratory capacities, particularly at the National Public Health Reference Lab.

“We will be investing approximately US$2 million dollars to upgrade the National Public Health Reference Lab to a level three facility,” Dr. Anthony stated.

The lab will also gain a new division dedicated to molecular surveillance.

“This is absolutely essential if we want to work with viruses and understand the types of viruses circulating,” the minister said.

Dr. Anthony further highlighted collaborative efforts with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) during last year, enabling influenza and other virus tracking.

“So, that we can be able to tell you the types of virus that are circulating in Guyana,” he said.

Additionally, the ministry is working toward certification by PAHO as a collaborating centre for influenza, further strengthening Guyana’s capacity to monitor and respond to viral diseases.