Health Ministry anticipates BETTER SCIENTIfiC FORECASTING

The Public Health Ministry, on Monday, received the Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) Manual which authorities say will help broaden laypersons understanding of the sector. They say it will also encourage more consistent scientific forecasting by professionals. The Manual was developed and produced through support from the Supply Chain Management System (SCMS) through funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The manuals will be distributed shortly to all public health facilities, nationwide. “Everyone one of us should own this document,” Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence said. USAID Country Director, Ms Caroline Healey, explained during the handing-over ceremony held at the Ministry’s Brickdam office, that insight from the document will put an end to stock outs, expiration of medicines and help guarantee that drugs, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies reach the beneficiaries “at the right time, at the right place, at the right quality and at the right price.” Healey said that her agency was enthusiastic to brace the strengthening of the health-supply chain from the Ministry to the 10 Administrative Regions spanning the 216,000 square kilometres of the multi-cultural South American country. Describing the manual as the “tool kit” for health sector employees, Healey predicted that following its guidelines will help eliminate the systemic difficulties which currently dog the local public health system. Director of Regional Health Services (RHS), Dr Kay Shako, said the ‘tool kit’ will assist health care providers. Ordinary citizens will get an insight into the workings of the public health system so they will better appreciate the challenges endemic in the system.

(Kaieteurnews.com)