Guyana has sealed a grant of US$10M from the Global Fund which Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy yesterday called an assistance strengthening grant that targets several critical areas in the local health sector.

The application to the Global Fund for HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria was approved recently Ramsammy said and yesterday representatives from the Fund and the Minister signed an agreement releasing the funds in two stages, US$4 has been approved for the first three years and the remaining sum for another three years.

Ramsammy said the six-year programme aims at strengthening critical areas in the system such as Mental Health; the Nursing Programme; Management and Development Programme; Surveillance and Monitoring Programme and Management and Information systems.

The five components of the developmental programmes targeted in the Fund fall within the overall aim of effectively tackling HIV and Tuberculosis. Ramsammy said Guyana has performed creditably in the past using previous grants from the Fund, adding that they intend to maintain the high standards set.

Specifically the Mental Health programme will benefit from capacity building and persons will be trained to deliver psychological support services; the Nursing programme will see focus on more nurses being trained to provide services; under the Management and Develop-ment programme graduates from the local university will be trained to take up leadership roles in remote areas; and the Management Information system and Surveillance and Monitoring programme will both involve strengthening and building capacity in those areas.