More than 80,000 children across Guyana have already been screened under a nationwide health programme targeting the country’s school population, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has revealed.
The President made the disclosure on Wednesday while speaking at the opening of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) 70th Annual Health Research Conference, describing the initiative as a major step toward strengthening public health planning.
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.
President Ali noted that the large number of children already screened provides a strong foundation for developing more informed and targeted public health policies. The initiative focuses on the early detection of health issues including vision, dental and hearing problems.
The programme is supported by the Hess Corporation and Mount Sinai Health Systems of New York, United States of America.
