Project Goals

1
Public Health Strengthening in Guyana Implemented
by the Canadian Society for International Health
(CSIH) in partnership with the Guyanese Ministry
of Health Canadian International Development
Agency investment 5.5 million CN
Poster Abstract Public Health Strengthening in
Guyana is a capacity development intervention
focused on improving and maintaining the health
of Guyanas population. One major component of
the Project focuses on improving the National
Tuberculosis Program (NTP) by providing technical
and administrative support for the NTP Unit,
developing and implementing national diagnosis
and treatment guidelines and, developing
implementation strategies for directly observed
therapy short-course (DOTS) using WHO standard
treatment. To ensure the success of the project,
organization and necessary procurement to
introduce AFB laboratory diagnosis have been
instituted. TB and bio-safety training sessions
and laboratory manual development are completed.
Mentorship, training and provision of motorbikes
to DOTS workers have further ensured that great
strides were made to improve level of patient
plus family care. In 2001, there were 787 TB
cases nationwide in Guyana. The TB detection rate
was 54 for 2000. Moreover, the incidence of TB
had increased by 10-20 annually between 1994 and
1999. In many cases, the extent of the problems
was impossible to define because of the lack of
diagnostic capacities, relevant expertise, and
adequate staffing. Furthermore, many of the gains
made from public health interventions, such as
childhood immunization programs, have been eroded
by the consequences of the increasing burden of
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and co-infections. By
supporting an integral approach to disease,
prevention, diagnosis, management and care at the
National and district/community levels, this
project will result in overall improvement in
health of the Guyanese.

• TB in Guyana
• 590 TB reported cases nationwide (2003)
• TB detection rate is 54
• DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy) coverage is only
  12 of the total population
• Annual rate of infection 3.2 (estimated)
• Annual risk of infection 0.92
• TB infection 14 (105,000 estimated)
• Current prevalence 0.3 (2,400 active cases)
• Annual incidence 79/100,000 (reported)
• Mortality Rate (reported) 3.25

• Key Project Components
• Expanding and Strengthening the Prevention,
  Management and Care of STIs/HIV/AIDS
• Improving National Tuberculosis Prevention and
  Control Program
• Strengthening the Health Information System
• Community Health Development and Care

Notified Cases 1988 - 2003
TB COMPONENT

• Project Goals
• Support the National Tb Program (NTP)
• Developed National Guidelines for prevention and
  control of Tb
• Developed guidelines for treating people
  co-infected with HIV/AIDS
• Implement and expand DOTS (Directly Observed
  Therapy Short course)
• Strengthen Laboratories
• Strengthen the Capacity of Educational
  Institutions

Age and Gender Distribution 2003
DOTS Achievements 2003-2004
Cases

• Project Achievements
• Key persons trained on a study tour to Canada.
• Vehicle and administrative support provided for
  the NTP
• Completed final draft of National TB Manual and
  TB Laboratory Manual
• Eleven new DOTS workers trained, mentored and
  provided with motorbikes
• Central Lab equipped and trained for TB culturing
  and fluorescent microscopy
• Continuing Education sessions for medical
  technologists
• The NGO Guyana Chest Society, re-activated and
  now member of the IUATLD
• First National TB conference held in
  collaboration with MOH and the Chest Society

Treatment Outcomes -2003
Minister Ramsammy on a new DOTS bike provided by
CSIH
Chief technologist and CSIH expert at new
PHSG-funded laboratory
Consultation at Chest Clinic with NTP Director,
Nurse and CSIH expert
A CSIH consultant delivers a lecture at UG
Launch of DOTS expansion in region 10
Computer and database training at Chest Clinic
with CSIH NetCorps intern
First National TB conference in Guyana, Oct. 2004
CSIH Guyana office Suzanne Marquis Project Field
Manager Tel [phone] csih_at_guyanapsu.org.gy
CSIH Ottawa office Roumyana Benedict Project
Director Tel [phone] Ext.307 rbenedict_at_csi
h.org
www.csih.org/what/guyana/indexguyana.html
Authors and Affiliations Dr. Earl Hershfield,
Tb expert consultant Dr. Shamdeo Persaud,
National Tuberculosis Officer Guyana Ms.
Roumyana Benedict, Project Director Ms. Josée
Levesque