Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Guyana’s health minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy says sexual and reproductive health must be given more priority on the development agenda if people’s lives are to be bettered.

He made the comment on Monday at a consensus meeting on Guyana’s Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Strategic Plan 2011-2020 at the Cara Lodge in Georgetown.

According to Dr.’ Ramsammy, STIs represent a “true barrier” to development.

“I believe that sexual reproductive health is one of the neglected areas in our development story. I’m making a call for all of us to place sexual and reproductive health higher on the development agenda.”

Dr. Ramsammy said philosophically they are strong given the placement of the issue on international agendas such as the Millennium Development Goals since they recognise that sexual and reproductive health is a critical element in devising any strategy to improve the lives of people everywhere.

“Our problem is priority; whilst we’ve philosophically got it correct, in terms of its prioritisation we’ve got it wrong. Indeed, we’ve invested a lot in the last 15 years … but all this have become skewed towards HIV,” he said.

However, the minister was quick to add that more money is still needed in HIV but even if that is found the problems that ail the population would still remain because it would not address sexual and reproductive health comprehensively.

Dr. Ramsammy said the international goals will not be achieved if all of the STIs are not addressed and he pointed out that the STI Strategic Plan being considered is Guyana’s first comprehensive plan to tackle the issue.    

The primary objectives of the Plan include increasing national capacity to manage and coordinate the STI programme; to intensify strategies aimed at primary and secondary prevention for STI and; to strengthen the health system to provide quality and efficient STI services.

The Plan will embrace a multi-sectoral approach and will look to strengthen linkages with NGOs, the private sector, vulnerable populations, and national, regional and international partners.  

Monday’s meeting considered the ninth and final draft of the plan which was developed with technical support from PAHO/WHO.