Miners to join the fight against malaria; over 27,000 cases detected in 2024

With 27, 169 cases of malaria diagnosed in 2024, Guyana is intensifying efforts to eliminate the life-threatening disease by allowing gold miners to play a pivotal role.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony at a recent yearend press conference revealed that majority of the cases were recorded in regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

He explained that through training initiatives, miners are being equipped with rapid diagnostic kits and treatment supplies.

“In their mining camps if people have a fever, they will be able to diagnose them because we are giving them the kits and we are giving them the treatment,” Dr. Anthony revealed.

This effort also aims to increase treatment access to remote areas since most mining activities are done in the country’s interior regions.

Meanwhile, to further combat malaria, a total of 109,523 insecticide-treated bed nets have been distributed, and the use of rapid tests has been expanded across the country.

Minister Anthony also stated that Guyana is aligning with the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) goal to eliminate several diseases by 2030.

“We in Guyana we have put our sights on five such diseases this includes leprosy, filarial, Chagas, leishmaniosis and worms.”

Last year, Guyana recorded less than 15 cases of leprosy; less than 20 cases of leishmaniosis and zero Chagas case.

The health minister revealed plans for programmes in schools to tackle worms and filaria has been eliminated in eight of the ten regions. The two outstanding regions are Regions Three and Four.

“In 2024, we introduced a mass drug administration for these two regions and we expect by 2025 that they will be on the path to elimination in these regions,” Dr. Anthony said.

In 2024, approximately 10,000 dengue cases were diagnosed with zero dengue related deaths.

The health minister also said the ministry was able to improve diagnostic capabilities last year with testing available in all regional hospitals.

“With dengue one of the interventions we have put in place, we have better diagnostics available, so all of our regional hospitals we now have the capability of doing the dengue tests, so they don’t have to send centrally,” the minister said.

This year, a new programme will provide fogging machines to every Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) and village council to further dengue reduce cases.

Dr. Anthony said some 200 fogging machines are being procured to bolster vector control.