Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas will visit Guyana from April 18 to 26, 2026, to participate in a series of regional health events focused on innovation in public health, disease prevention and health system strengthening.
Dr. Sealey-Thomas will attend the 70th Annual Health Research Conference at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, hosted by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and Guyana’s Ministry of Health. She will deliver remarks under the theme “Innovation in Health,” highlighting how emerging tools such as artificial intelligence-driven epidemic prediction systems and next-generation vaccines are reshaping disease prevention, diagnosis and community care across the Caribbean.
She will also hold a courtesy meeting with Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony and participate in the 52nd Ordinary Meeting of the South American Commission for the Fight Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (COSALFA) at Pegasus Corporate Suites. The meeting will launch the Fourth Action Plan (2026–2030) of the Hemispheric Foot-and-Mouth Disease Eradication Programme and review progress under the 2021–2025 cycle, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in animal health and disease control.
During her visit, Dr. Sealey-Thomas will tour several PAHO-supported Ministry of Health initiatives, including the Eccles Health Centre, where she will observe the HEARTS in the Americas programme for cardiovascular health and hypertension management, cervical cancer screening services and rehabilitation interventions under the Basic Package of Interventions. She will also visit Diamond Hospital to observe new regional facilities and cervical cancer training sites.
On April 25, Dr. Sealey-Thomas will deliver remarks at the launch of Vaccination Week in the Americas at the Umana Yana under the theme “Your decision makes a difference: prevention is protection, vaccinate now.”
The visit underscores PAHO’s support for regional health research, animal disease control programmes and vaccination awareness efforts, while highlighting Guyana’s expanding role in regional health cooperation.
