UNICEF hands over anthropometric equipment to the Ministry of Health
-To improve the health and nutrition of children under the age of four across Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana, January 17, 2025: In an effort to improve the health and nutrition of children under the age of four across Guyana, UNICEF today handed over more than 300 anthropometric equipment to the Ministry of Health at the Ministry’s Bond in Kingston, Georgetown.
The equipment consists of 150 beam scales, 102 infant scales, 102 length/height boards and 1 CTG monitor and will be utilized in health centers throughout the country, empowering healthcare professionals to effectively monitor and assess children’s growth and development. It will enable evidence-based interventions to ensure that every child, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to thrive.
Mr. Nicolas Pron, Area Representative of UNICEF Guyana and Suriname during the simple handover ceremony said the equipment will result in better care for Guyana’s children, while strengthening communities.
At UNICEF, we are deeply committed to supporting the Government of Guyana in advancing the health and development of its youngest citizens. We know that investing in nutrition during these early years is one of the most powerful ways to break the cycle of poverty, improve health outcomes, and strengthen communities.” – Mr. Pron said.
Receiving the equipment, Dr. Vishawa Mahadeo, Director General at the Ministry of Health said that good developmental tracking is critical in determining the health of Guyana’s children as well as ensuring that any and all interventions thereafter are evidence based.
Charge d'Affaires of the Canadian High Commission Daniel Bood delivers remarks at the handover of anthropometric equipment to the Ministry of Health
“The equipment being handed over today is vital for community health workers as they assess the nutritional status and overall health of Guyana’s children,” Bood said.
The procurement and handover of the anthropometric equipment comes as part of the broader project, “Promoting Safe and Healthy Learning and Living Environments to Migrant and Host Communities in Guyana’s Hinterland and Selected Coastal Areas,” that is funded by the Government of Canada.
The project underscores the critical importance of Early Childhood Development and focuses particularly on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life; a period that sets the foundation for lifelong health, learning, and well-being.
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UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.
