Maternity
Unit Opening - Guyana
Speech delivered by the Honourable David
Kilgour,
Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
At the opening of the Maternity Unit of
the Georgetown Public Hospital
Georgetown, Guyana
May 22, 1998
Your Excellency
President Janet Jagan, Honourable Minister
of Health Dr. Henry Jeffrey, members of
the diplomatic corps, government officials
and hospital staff, distinguished guests,
members of the media. It is an honour and
privilege to be here today, on behalf of
the government and people of Canada, at
the opening of the maternity unit of the
Georgetown Public Hospital.
This auspicious
occasion marks another milestone in development
cooperation between Canada and Guyana. It
exemplifies the close and friendly relations
that have existed for many years between
our people. As I look around today I see
many friends. We can all feel a sense of
accomplishment at what has been achieved
through our cooperation.
What better
expression of friendship, shared aspirations
and hopes for the future could there be
than the construction of a maternity unit
where Guyanese children can draw their first
breath and receive their first care and
nurturing, where families are created and
strengthened, where the nation is renewed
and blessed?
All development
is an investment in the future, but this
is a special investment which will have
a particular and personal impact on future
generations of Guyanese people. We are pleased
to have been part of it and we congratulate
those who conceptualized, designed and worked
to bring us this beautiful maternity ward.
This maternity
unit has been constructed as part of a CIDA
project called the Social Infrastructure
Project (SIP) which began in 1995. Under
this project 7.3 million Canadian dollars
were allocated for the provision of fertilizer
by Canada to the Guyana Sugar Industry.
The fertilizer was paid for in Guyanese
dollars by GUYSUCO and the funds were then
directed to strengthen selected projects
within the Guyana government's Public Sector
Investment Program (PSIP) which includes
the construction or rehabilitation of health,
education, water supply and sanitation facilities
in every part of Guyana.
The SIP project,
as we call it, is an excellent example of
how to make money grow things twice. The
fertilizer grows sugar which is sold to
grow the economy. The money raised from
the sale of the fertilizer grows people,
in Guyana, through investment in health
and education. We intend to continue our
involvement in these fields, working in
cooperation with you. We have earmarked
7.5 million Canadian dollars for further
projects in these sectors. We are also supporting
many Canadian and Guyanese NGOs, who are
working together in these fields.
Our aid program
goes beyond the social sector. Canadian
assistance also strives to promote economic
growth, social equity, sustainable management
of environmental and natural resources,
as well as poverty alleviation. Special
attention is paid to women in development
and gender equity, the role of aboriginals
and youth, and Caribbean regional integration.
We will continue to manage and develop projects
that target these objectives.
I would like
to mention a few by way of illustration.
The CESO
business advisory project has been highly
successful in strengthening the operations
of Guyanese manufacturers, primary resource
businesses, and various public and private
sector organizations by providing Canadian
expert volunteer advisers.
The Guyana
economic management program is upgrading
public sector management in ministries within
the government of Guyana. Emphasis is placed
on financial and economic management, as
well as the development of knowledge and
systems to improve the strategic use of
limited resources.
The Canada
Fund provides financial assistance for small-scale
projects promoting economic, technical,
educational and social development at a
grass-roots level.
The building
community capacity project focuses on strengthening
skills and institutional capacity in national
and community-level NGOs in Guyana. The
program includes components that stress
gender equality, as well as hinterland programming
to assist Guyana's indigenous population.
The human
resource development project will aim to
strengthen the training and coordination
capabilities of private and public sector
organizations to enable them to meet the
demands for skilled labour in a competitive
economic market.
The Gender
Equity Fund supports initiatives to improve
Guyanese women's economic, political and
social situations by improving access to
health care and education, empowerment,
and reducing domestic violence.
We are wrapping
up some successful projects. For example
tomorrow I will go to see an artisanal fish
port and a successful fish processing operation
that has been established adjacent to it.
We are planning
new projects in environmental protection,
human resource development and teacher education.
Add to this
our support for Guyana's debt relief, including
the most recent HIPC initiative, and for
multilateral assistance through the UN system
and the financial institutions. Guyana also
benefits from our assistance to CARICOM,
including support for institutional strengthening,
fisheries management, health, and the regional
negotiating machinery.
Although
the rain that has fallen suggests that perhaps
El Niño is abating, we know that
the people most affected by the drought
will continue to need assistance for some
time to come. Madam President, as you know
Canada responded quickly to the emergency.
Our original allocation of C$200,000 for
agricultural and deepwell pumps was followed
by $110,000 for seeds and cassava sticks
and their transportation to the hardest
hit remote regions of Guyana.
But let me
get back to the maternity unit.
This new
maternity ward has several modern features
including a centralized oxygen and nitrous
supply system and air conditioners. From
what I see here and from the reports I have
received, it appears that the contractors
have done a very good job.
The happy
signs are all around. I understand that
6,261 babies were delivered in the old maternity
ward in 1996 and about 500 more or 6,779
last year.
I believe
this pleasant environment will invite many
more mothers in the years to come. So, if
over the next two years we find the population
of your beautiful country skyrocketing we
can safely blame it on the staff of our
High Commission and those who worked so
assiduously with the government and people
of Guyana to provide this inviting facility.
Honoured
guests, ladies and gentlemen, once again
on behalf of the government and people of
Canada it is my pleasure to be here at this
opening and to hand over the keys to the
Minister of Health.
Canada and
Guyana
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