Guyana establishes standardized healthcare procedures for sexual violence survivors

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Guyana handed over national Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to the Ministry of Health in Guyana.

These procedures provide a framework for the clinical management of rape and intimate partner violence in health care facilities across the country. The UNFPA collaborated with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) to develop the guidelines.

These documents aim to standardize how health workers respond to survivors by ensuring all patients receive confidential and compassionate care based on informed consent. Adler Bynoe of the UNFPA Guyana Liaison Office stated that the handover helps turn policy into practice to ensure survivors have access to high-quality care regardless of their location. Chief Medical Officer Narine Singh noted that the new procedures will ensure survivors receive quality treatment.