UNICEF Representative meets at the Regional Special Education Needs/Disability Diagnostic and Treatment Centre

UNICEF Representative Nicolas Pron yesterday met with Keon Cheong, Coordinator at the Regional Special Education Needs/Disability Diagnostic and Treatment Centre and his team in Guyana

Following a tour of the centre, the teams discussed the work being done with a view to renewing the partnership between UNICEF and the Centre and to strategize for a more impactful support to children with disabilities. The centre is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and, while still in its nascent stage, is geared to being the premier centre in Guyana to respond to the needs of children with disabilities and other special education needs and to enhance the supporting/nurturing skills of their parents. It also aims to facilitate specialised training for professionals in the Caribbean to identify, diagnose and treat children with special education needs and other disabilities (SEND).

Currently, the centre is serving a number of children. UNICEF had previously sponsored a study tour to Cuba for staff members to support the transitioning to a more robust local professional staff so as to deliver a more country specific approach to programme development and implementation.

Mr. Pron pledged UNICEF continued support to the centre which is currently operated by the Ministry of Education with some technical support from the Ministry of Health. The UNICEF team at the meeting also included Deputy Representative Irfan Akhtar and Education Specialist Audrey Michele Rodrigues.