Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy yesterday took international agencies to task for using wrong data to compile reports on Guyana, while saying that the practice disrespected the country and undermined the efforts of local health workers.

Ramsammy, who cited PAHO/WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF, said he would not accept reports in the future if the organisations do not use the data tabulated locally. In a fiery address at the opening of a two-day caucus on maternal and child health at the Regency Hotel, Ramsammy said while the organisations have been good partners, they have been “absolutely unfair” to the country. “It is one thing to say to health workers that we have a formula and it is the formula that we would follow, to hell with the data that you have!” an angry sounding Ramsammy said.

His comments were prompted by PAHO/WHO Country Representative Dr Beverley Barnett’s reference to a 2007 report …..