Word Bank approves US$22M Guyana One Health Project

The World Bank has approved the US$22 million Guyana One Health Project, focused on empowering the country to prevent, prepare for, and respond to health emergencies.
The project will adopt a One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health systems.
Guyana faces an evolving set of public health threats. Non-communicable diseases account for 70 per cent of all deaths, while infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria continue to pose major risks.
The threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—when medicines like antibiotics no longer work against infections—is especially pressing.
In 2019, 147 deaths in Guyana were directly attributable to AMR, and 579 deaths were associated with it, making the country the second highest in AMR-related mortality in the Caribbean.

Further, despite a largely government-funded healthcare system that serves around 80 per cent of the population, hinterland regions still experience critical shortages of healthcare workers.
The country’s health information system is also mainly paper-based, making it difficult to track patient care and ensure continuity—especially during emergencies.
To address these challenges, the World Bank and the Government of Guyana, with the support of the Pandemic Fund, have launched a new project that integrates and modernises Guyana’s public health infrastructure.
The Guyana One Health Project will further upgrade and decentralise the laboratory network, including transforming the National Public Health Reference Laboratory into a state-of-the-art facility.
Veterinary and wildlife diagnostic capacity will also be expanded, utilising the One Health approach to improve the ability to detect zoonotic diseases—those that spread from animals to humans—as well as illnesses such as dengue and malaria.
Additionally, laboratories will be weather-resilient and energy-efficient, ensuring continuity of operations even in extreme weather conditions. The project builds upon previous partnerships, including the now-concluded Guyana COVID-19 Emergency Response Project.

“A healthy and productive society is critical for economic growth,” said Diletta Doretti, World Bank Group Representative for Guyana. “This project builds upon earlier health projects which addressed vulnerabilities in the health system, applying a One Health approach, and directly contributes to the nation’s productivity and long-term prosperity.”
The project will also work to digitise the country’s health surveillance systems, replacing outdated paper records with integrated, real-time platforms that link data from across human and animal health sectors—critical for addressing AMR.
Furthermore, it will establish regional surveillance units nationwide, helping to detect and respond to emerging outbreaks closer to their source. Investments will also improve disease monitoring at points of entry, ensuring Guyana’s borders are better equipped to manage cross-border health threats.

Alongside these system upgrades, a new generation of health professionals—from laboratory scientists to port health officers—will be trained and equipped with the skills to detect, report, and respond to outbreaks.
The training will go beyond technical expertise to include guidance on how to identify and support individuals affected by gender-based violence, a risk that often increases during crises.
“The Pandemic Fund is pleased to collaborate with the Government of Guyana and the World Bank on this innovative partnership, which marks another milestone in our efforts to contain infectious disease outbreaks, prevent pandemics, and save lives.
The US$15.6 million grant from the Pandemic Fund is unlocking US$96.5 million, or over six times as much, in domestic and international financing to support Guyana’s efforts,” said Priya Basu, Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund.
Recognising that pandemic prevention must go beyond government systems, the project will support awareness campaigns across farming communities, schools, and households, as well as the private sector.
These efforts will promote responsible antibiotic use, good hygiene practices, and safe interactions with wildlife and livestock—ensuring that public health is a shared responsibility.
The Guyana One Health Project is financed through a US$15 million grant from the Pandemic Fund, along with a US$7 million credit from the World Bank’s International Development Association.