MOH, UNFPA honour mothers in recognition of world population achieving seven billion mark

Georgetown : Alicia Hamer, Florine Emanuel, Laurel Hinds, Shevon Bobb, Zalima Jawahir and Yolanda Harding are proud mothers having given birth on October 31, the same day the world’s population reached seven billion.

 In honour of this achievement, the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), together, presented tokens to the mothers of the first six babies at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s maternity ward. 
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud stressed that even though these few babies are being honoured, every birth is important to Guyana. He noted that on average about 40 babies are born every day at both public and private health facilities, with minimum losses.

 

Assistant Representative – UNFPA, Patrice La Fleur referred to the state of the world’s report, the issue of seven billion on planet earth and focused on challenges and possibilities. 
She emphasised that the babies are significant as they are born on a special day where the whole world is acknowledging the world’s seven billon population.  She added that in another 12-14 years the world will achieve another billion people. 
La Fleur pledged to work closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that over time as the babies grow and develop, they will be able to access all of the information and services that are required for them to live a healthy life; in particular, they are assured of being properly immunized.