His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali stated that legislative reform is underway to support the growth and modernisation of the health sector, which the Government aims to establish as the premier system in the region.
President Ali made these remarks during the launch of the Guyana Global Cardiovascular Health Care Initiative at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown. The US$100 million initiative, a collaboration between Northwell Health and the George Subraj Foundation, seeks to address the rising burden of heart disease in Caribbean and South Asian communities by advancing clinical training, medical research, and community-based health outreach.
In his address, President Ali emphasised the need to confront the crisis of cardiovascular deaths directly. He stated that the country must leverage technology, such as artificial intelligence and robotics, to develop and train doctors in specialised fields. To support such innovative approaches, he noted that the Government is working on modernising legislation to keep pace with rapid transformations.
Additionally, President Ali highlighted the partnership between Northwell Health and the George Subraj Foundation as a model of the collaborative effort required to tackle this crisis. He stressed the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles, investing in early detection, supporting public education, and making healthier choices accessible to everyone, regardless of location or income.
Cardiovascular diseases, he noted, are the leading cause of death in Guyana and the highest in the entire Americas. “This is not the path we want to remain on,” he stated.
The President also reiterated the importance of comprehensive and inclusive approaches to health reform, addressing public outreach and equipping the nation with resources to combat heart disease.
The event was attended by the Honourable Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, US Ambassador Her Excellency Nicole Theriot, and members of the Subraj family and Northwell Health.
