Ministry of Health appoints COVID-19 Vaccines Task Force

The Ministry of Health announced the members of a broad-based National COVID-19 Vaccines
Task Force in preparation for the arrival and roll out of the immunization campaign against the
coronavirus disease in Guyana. The announcement was made by Minister of Health, Dr Frank
Anthony yesterday (Friday)

He revealed that he will be heading the Vaccines Task Force and it includes representatives from
several departments in the Ministry of Health, the National COVID-19 Task Force, other
Government agencies, and the private sector.

In a press release issued by the Ministry of Health it stated that in making the appointments, Dr.
Anthony explained that a deliberate decision was taken to appoint members who possess specific
skill sets, as would be required for any national immunisation programme in general, but more
importantly having regard to the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic in particular.

“The members are public service professionals who are familiar with immunisation programmes,
cold storage operations and medical supply chains, as well as private sector representatives who
have been have trained in vaccination campaigns and who understand the expectations, thereby
representing a diverse blend of people who have the required expertise and commitment to this
national effort in response to COVID-19,” he was quoted as saying.

The Chair and members of the COVID-19 Vaccines Task Force are as follows:

1.  Minister of Health — Dr. Frank Anthony (Chair)

2. Advisor to the Minister of Health — Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

3.  Chief Medical Officer — Dr. Narine Singh

4.  Director General of Regional Health Services — Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo

5.  Director of Primary Health Care Services — Dr. Ertenisa Hamilton (Secretary)

6.  Deputy Director of Regional Health Services — Dr. Veronica Griffith

7.  Director of Surveillance Unit — Ms. Sasha Walrond

8.  Director of the Food & Drug Analyst Department — Dr. Marlan Cole

9. Officer in Charge of Health Communications — Ms. Shabana Shaw

10.  Team of Immunologists — services to be sourced externally when needed

11. Representative from the Joint Services — Mr. Clifton Hicken

12. Representative from the Guyana Revenue Authority – Mr. Lance Wills

13. Representative from PAHO/WHO — Dr. Luis Codina

14. Representative from UNICEF — Mr. Irfan Akhtar

15. Cold Chain Technician — Mr. John Ramotar

16. Pharmacist — Dr.  Karishma Jeeboo

17. Representative of the Private Health Sector — Dr. Malika Mootoo

18. Representative from the Attorney General’s Office — Ms. Joann Bond

19. Representative from the Ministry of Local Government — Ms. Prema Roopnarine​