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Georgetown (Guyana): Difference between revisions
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'''OVERVIEW''' | '''OVERVIEW''' | ||
Although technically in South America, Guyana identifies as a Caribbean country in terms of its culture and history. It is also an incredibly diverse state with citizens of various faiths and backgrounds, including Christian, Muslim and Hindu. Generally speaking, Guyana can be considered a conservative society. Abortion was illegal until 1995, homosexuality is still illegal, and there are no protections against discrimination for LGBTQ people in the country, as of 2018. However, this is not to say that the country provides no options regarding health care. In fact, you can obtain condoms and birth control pills without a prescription. While the selection of birth control pill options may be limited at pharmacies, you can find international brands, such as Microgynon, Diane 35 and Yaz. You can also find emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) at pharmacies, particularly i-Pill. There are no travel or residency restrictions for people living with HIV, and there are many NGOs in the country that focus on HIV prevention, treatment and care. The country has a nationwide HPV vaccination program, but we could find no evidence of PrEP programs in the country. According to the National Insurance Act, women are entitled to thirteen weeks of maternity leave. Furthermore, since 1995, abortion has been legally available upon request, and it can be performed in public hospitals. | |||
==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ||
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* In Guyana, you can get contraceptives at pharmacies, health centers or clinics, like the [http://grpa.org.gy/ Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association] (call the clinic: 225-0739 Hotline: 225-6493). | * In Guyana, you can get contraceptives at pharmacies, health centers or clinics, like the [http://grpa.org.gy/ Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association] (call the clinic: 225-0739 Hotline: 225-6493). | ||
* You can find '''condoms''' in pharmacies, supermarkets, gas stations, venues for condom-marketing distribution programs or even, in at least one, reported case, a beauty salon (Michelle's Beauty Salon).<ref>[https://www.charities.org/news/why-beauty-salon-guyana-excellent-place-sex-education Why a Beauty Salon in Guyana is an Excellent Place for Sex Education]</ref> While condoms are generally accessible in central urban areas, they can be more difficult for people to access | * You can find '''condoms''' in pharmacies, supermarkets, gas stations, venues for condom-marketing distribution programs or even, in at least one, reported case, a beauty salon (Michelle's Beauty Salon).<ref>[https://www.charities.org/news/why-beauty-salon-guyana-excellent-place-sex-education Why a Beauty Salon in Guyana is an Excellent Place for Sex Education]</ref> While condoms are generally accessible in central urban areas, they can be more difficult for people to access in more remote areas. For this reason, a condom marketing and distribution program was set up, which distributed condoms from larger retailers to smaller retail outlets in areas where condoms aren't sold. The condom distribution program has now ended, small retailers have reportedly continued to sell condoms through larger channels that were set up by the initiative.<ref>[https://www.msh.org/news-events/stories/improved-supply-chain-and-retailers%E2%80%99-commitment-expands-condom-access-in-guyana IMPROVED SUPPLY CHAIN AND RETAILERS’ COMMITMENT EXPANDS CONDOM ACCESS IN GUYANA]</ref> | ||
* You can find '''oral contraceptives (birth control pills)''' in Guyana, and you'll typically don't need a prescription to purchase them. However, some pharmacies may prefer if you have a consultation with a gynecologist or physician before going to the pharmacy. Some of the birth control pill brands that you can expect to find in Guyana are Diane 35, Microgynon and Yaz.<ref>[Conversations with multiple pharmacists in Georgetown, April 2018]</ref> | * You can find '''oral contraceptives (birth control pills)''' in Guyana, and you'll typically don't need a prescription to purchase them. However, some pharmacies may prefer if you have a consultation with a gynecologist or physician before going to the pharmacy. Some of the birth control pill brands that you can expect to find in Guyana are Diane 35, Microgynon and Yaz.<ref>[Conversations with multiple pharmacists in Georgetown, April 2018]</ref> | ||
* You can find '''contraceptive implants''' in Guyana. At [http://grpa.org.gy/ Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association], you can find the Jadelle implant. | * You can find '''contraceptive implants''' in Guyana. At [http://grpa.org.gy/ Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association], you can find the Jadelle implant. | ||
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===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
* | * We talked to two pharmacies in Georgetown (April 2018) and here are the price ranges we were quoted for birth control pills: Microgynon - $500 to $875 Guyanese Dollar (GYD); Diane 35 - $2995 to $3188 Guyanese Dollar (GYD); Yaz - $2595 to $3675 Guyanese Dollar (GYD).<ref>[Conversations with multiple pharmacists in Georgetown, April 2018]</ref> | ||
==Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)== | ==Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Guyana, you can purchase emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) | In Guyana, you can purchase emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) at pharmacies. However, we have received conflicting information regarding whether a prescription is needed. According to some sources (such as the International Consortium for Emergency Contraception), no prescription is needed.<ref>[http://www.cecinfo.org/country-by-country-information/status-availability-database/countries/guyana/ EC Status and Availability: Guyana]</ref> Yet, when we communicated directly with a pharmacy in Georgetown, they stated that a prescription was necessary to purchase emergency contraceptive pills. They said that a prescription can be obtained from a doctor, gynecologist, clinic or hospital. This leads us to believe that there is either a discrepancy in the official legal status of ECPs and actual practice of dispensation, or perhaps different pharmacies have different policies. If you have more information on this subject, or if you can clarify whether ECPs are available over-the-counter in Guyana, please update this section. | ||
In Guyana, the usage of emergency contraceptive pills is not very common. According to 2009 data, only 0.9% of Guyanese women had ever used ECPs, and 29.7% of Guyanese women had knowledge of ECPs.<ref>[http://www.cecinfo.org/country-by-country-information/status-availability-database/countries/guyana/ EC Status and Availability: Guyana]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
* In Guyana, you can obtain emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) | * In Guyana, you can obtain emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) at pharmacies, IPPF-affiliated programs and various clinics in Guyana. For example, you should be able to find them at Medicine Express (a pharmacy) on Camp Street. You may need a prescription, but some venues may provide ECPs without a prescription. Some of the pill brands you can expect to find are i-Pill, which is produced by Cipla, an Indian pharmaceutical company, and Postinor 2, which is produced by Gedeon Richter, a Hungarian pharmaceutical company.<ref>[http://www.cecinfo.org/country-by-country-information/status-availability-database/countries/guyana/ EC Status and Availability: Guyana]</ref> | ||
* If you cannot access dedicated emergency contraceptive pills, you can use regular birth control pills as replacement ECPs. If you do this, you should remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. To do this, you can take Nordiol or Ovral (for these pills, take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). As another option, you can take Lo-Femenal, Microgynon or Nordette (for these pills, take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later).<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/ Princeton EC Website]</ref> | * If you cannot access dedicated emergency contraceptive pills, you can use regular birth control pills as replacement ECPs. If you do this, you should remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. To do this, you can take Nordiol or Ovral (for these pills, take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). As another option, you can take Lo-Femenal, Microgynon or Nordette (for these pills, take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later).<ref>[http://ec.princeton.edu/ Princeton EC Website]</ref> | ||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
* | * When we talked to a pharmacy in Guyana, they told us that they sold i-Pill for $660 GYD (April 2018).<ref>[Conversations with pharmacy in Georgetown, April 2018]</ref> | ||
==Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)== | ==Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)== | ||
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In 1996, the Domestic Violence Act was passed, which provides "protection in cases involving domestic violence by the granting of a protection order, to provide the police with powers of arrest where a domestic violence offence occurs and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."<ref>[http://mola.gov.gy/information/laws-of-guyana/488-chapter-1109-domestic-violence Ministry of Legal Affairs: Chapter 11:09 - Domestic Violence]</ref> | |||
Homosexuality is illegal in Guyana<ref>[http://www.equaldex.com/region/guyana LGBT Rights in Guyana]</ref>, though there is a movement to legalize it. | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||