Over 80,000 children screened in nationwide health programme – President Ali

President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday revealed that more than 80,000 children across Guyana have already been screened under a nationwide health programme targeting the country’s school population.

Speaking at the opening of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) 70th Annual Health Research Conference, President Ali described the initiative as a major step toward strengthening public health planning.

He explained that the screenings were conducted within the primary school system through a coordinated effort involving parents, teachers and communities, with consent forms required for participation.

The programme is now being expanded to secondary schools, with authorities aiming to gather complete health data on students nationwide by the end of 2026.

Dr Ali noted that the large number of children already screened provides a strong foundation for developing more informed and targeted public health policies moving forward.

The screening programme is supported by the Hess Corporation and Mount Sinai Health Systems in New York, United States of America (USA). Through this initiative, local authorities are focused on the early detection of health issues like vision, dental, and hearing problems.