Oluatoyin Alleyne

When Tyson English, a former schoolteacher, got on his bicycle on the morning of October 29, his mission was to put his physical, mental, and emotional well-being under tremendous pressure to bring awareness to mental health and cancer.

As the fight against HIV/AIDS continues, Guyana will this month launch a pilot self-testing project at four locations in Region Four and according to Programme Manager of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) Dr Tariq Jagnarine, while there may be some reservations it is a best-practice recommended service.

Sixty-two-year-old Debra Davis is a woman of many stories. She does not look at you while she speaks.

For years, the name Shaundell Shipley could be described as being synonymous with community building and child advocacy as regardless of the environment she would not hesitate to intervene once a child was at risk.

“I agree that when you grow older that you have to somehow get past your childhood hardships and just live because if you hold on to your childhood trauma then you might never be able to live in the true sense.

Sandy Shobha Maeck is a mother of four with a story of resilience and perseverance that weaves through the terror of domestic violence and a relationship based on lies to happiness.

Almost five years ago when this column first appeared, it detailed a battered woman’s struggle with a system that was not friendly to women like her, and dealing with her abuser whose only intent was for her to return to their matrimonial home.

The youngest of 14 children and half of a pair of identical twins, Shane Tull was always surrounded by family and from an early age he knew he wanted to work with people and help them.

Throughout her professional life Coretta Moore was accustomed to receiving commendations for her performance, until her later years as a bank employee when she was forced into a position she was ill-equipped for and which ultimately led to her collapse into a severe state of depression.

From all accounts a beautiful soul died last week by suicide.

As World Sight Day is observed across the globe, Dr Johan Da Silva and the Lion’s Club of Bel Air are reminding Guyanese of the importance of having regular eye check-ups and not waiting until something is wrong.

By Oluatoyin Alleyne The news of a breast cancer diagnosis can break the strongest woman but what makes the difference, apart from the treatment rendered, according to two survivors, is a positive outlook and family support.

“It is not easy being a security guard in this country right now, especially since people have to show the COVID vaccine card.

Growing up, Ellen Smith imagined herself being a mechanical engineer; she was always fascinated with fixing her bicycle wheels and always wanted to know more.

“I looking fuh a new job because I had to just leave the job in the market because I didn’t able with what you have to go through there.

Assaulted and later forced out of the place she called home, her clothes and that of her daughter flung out, a pregnant 36-year-old Jenny (not her real name) made the streets her home.

Anita Bennie was up late watching television one night in March last year when she passed her hand across her right breast and felt a lump.

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed annually on September 10. It is organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and endorsed by the World Health Organization and represents a global commitment to focus attention on suicide prevention.

Thirty-year-old Ayla Kenyon is on a mission to ensure that indigenous people, moreso those in the Rupununi region, depend more on the livestock they rear for their protein input instead of hunting wildlife, which she believes has to become more sustainable.

“It was a trying 12 years but you know if I had to do it all over again I would do it because even though she never walk, never really talk and you do everything for her she was still such a beautiful child.