In Saint-Georges and Oiapoque, a health week to strengthen cooperation between Guyana and Brazil

French and Brazilian health professionals are gathered in Saint-Georges and Oiapoque, starting this Monday, December 2, on the occasion of Cross-Border Health Week.

The event is intended to strengthen cooperation on public health, environmental health and health security between Guyana and Brazil.

This cross-border health week opened this Monday at 2 p.m. with an official ceremony and a symbolic march on the bridge over the Oyapock.

Organized by the Regional Health Agency of Guyana, this meeting has not taken place since 2018.

Health stakeholders will discuss care pathways, patient monitoring, data sharing and priorities for 2025. The week will be punctuated by awareness, prevention and screening actions in Oiapoque and Saint-Georges. The stakes are high because the subjects are numerous: from care to health monitoring to preventive actions in all areas.

Tuesday, it will be about care pathways and patient monitoring. How to improve the coordination of cross-border care and the movement of health professionals ?

Sharing information between French and Brazilian professionals is essential to improve patient follow-up. Actors on both sides of the border will be able to discuss it during this week.

The epidemiological situation and health alerts will also be at the heart of the meetings. What cross-border approach in the fight against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis? ? For example, at the end of October, a major HIV screening campaign was organized in Oiapoque and for several years care pathways have been set up between Saint-Georges and Oiapoque for people living with HIV.

This week could also make it possible to find avenues for developing cooperation in matters of mental health. The healthcare offer is reduced in the area. A meeting is planned on this topic for Tuesday afternoon.

The subject of supporting women and LGBTQIA+ people who are victims of violence will also be discussed on Wednesday. The Oiapoque women's house must see the light of day. This week also allows us to take stock of progress.

Another issue : waste management on both sides of the border. During a workshop planned for Thursday, awareness raising on waste sorting will be organized on both sides of the border.

Finally, another subject will be discussed Tuesday evening, with the presentation of the study project on the determinants of lead accumulation in cassava varieties. The lead content of tubers is said to be high in the region. This raises several questions about agricultural practices and the varieties of tubers used.

Cooperation between Guyana and Amapa in the field of health has already enabled progress for both countries. Historically, the actions carried out during this cross-border health week make it possible to improve vaccinations, screenings, prevention, but also to initiate first aid. This cross-border health week should still allow further progress.

Absent since 2018, it was requested by the city of Oiapoque during the River Council and was validated at the end of the third Joint Commission for Transborder Cooperation (CMT) between France and Brazil which took place in Macapa on June 12 and 13.

Tuesday December 3

• Cross-border health: a framework for continuous care and effective surveillance

Sequences: coordination and protocol for cross-border care, circulation and mobility of health professionals, health surveillance and prevention • 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. • Location: Saint-Georges • Room: Town Hall • Presenters: Denis Souillard (CRPV) and Anne Cariou (ARS)

• Conference – From monitoring to action: joining forces to strengthen collaborations against infectious diseases

Objective: presentation, discussions and perspectives around screening and monitoring actions • 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. • Location: Saint-Georges • Room: Town Hall • Presenters: Céline Michaud (CHC), JeanYves Cattin (CHC) and Francky Mubenga (ARS)

• Mental health at the border: strengthening links, harmonizing care • Objective: Promote knowledge to better collaborate • 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m. • Location: Saint-Georges • Room: CMP • Facilitators: Amaury Goudounesque (ARS) and Giselle Boichut Santana ( ARS)
• Conferences – “Ethno-medicine and diet among the Palikur of Saint-Georges” (Michel Rapinski, Researcher at CNRS) “Presentation of the study project on the determinants of lead accumulation in cassava varieties” (Sandra Ianez, study engineer at CNRS) • 7 p.m.-9 p.m. • Location: Oiapoque (to be confirmed)

Wednesday December 4

• Journey of victims in cross-border areas: shared challenges and solutions • Objective: sharing of experience on the journey of women and LGBTQIA+ people victims of violence • 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. • Location: Oiapoque / UNIFAP Room • Facilitators: Emilie Loret (ARS) and Anaïg Amouret (IDSanté)
• Connected health: securing and sharing data for care without borders • Objective: identify the needs, issues and means in the field of data sharing • 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. • Location: Oiapoque / UNIFAP Room • Presenters: Aurélien Lebrun (ARS) and Laurie Tancogne (CHC)

Thursday December 5

• Prevent and act: co-mobilization for sustainable territories • Objective: sharing of experience of raising awareness of waste sorting on both sides of the border • 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. • Location: Saint-Georges • Room: Sub-prefecture • Facilitators: Adrien Ortelli ( ARS) and Priscilla Thébaux (Sub-prefecture of Saint-Georges)
• Physical activity and health: a bridge for cooperation, a shared momentum • Objective: sharing of associative experiences of existing collaborations • 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. • Location: Saint-Georges • Room: Town Hall • Facilitators: Tiphaine Legendre (DCJS/ARS) and GPS Closing cocktail • 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. • Location: Saint-Georges • Room: Polin Bassière

Friday December 6

• From theory to practice: visit to the territories, at the heart of practices and binational projects • 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. • Location: Place de Saint-Georges Concert by local artists • 7 p.m. • Public square of Saint-Georges