Guyana on Monday officially launched the 2026 Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) Mission, bringing together U.S. and Guyanese healthcare professionals for two weeks of specialised medical services and training across the country.
The mission was launched during an opening ceremony at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Kingston, attended by health officials and representatives of the United States Government.
Coordinated by the United States Southern Command in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the mission runs from March 16 to March 27, 2026.
During that period, teams will provide medical, surgical, ophthalmological, and dental services, while also working to strengthen local capacity and deepen health cooperation between the two countries.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said the initiative has already proven valuable in previous years and noted that this year’s mission is the biggest so far.
He said this is the third LAMAT mission to be hosted in Guyana, following earlier engagements in 2023 and 2025.
“The previous missions have been extremely successful. One of the most important things we learned was how seamlessly the visiting team worked with our local healthcare professionals. These exchanges allow our teams to learn new techniques, expand the scope of services we can provide, and build lasting professional relationships,” Dr. Anthony said.
According to the minister, the 2026 mission is the largest to date, with more healthcare professionals involved and services being delivered at multiple institutions nationwide.
The 89-member medical team will work at the Linden Hospital Complex, Diamond Regional Hospital, West Demerara Regional Hospital, De Kinderen Regional Hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the Cheddi Jagan Dental School.
Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Guyana, John Crippen, said the mission reflects the U.S. commitment to strengthening health systems in the region.
“This mission reflects the United States’ steadfast commitment to the people of Guyana. Over the next two weeks, our teams will work alongside Guyanese counterparts to deliver medical, surgical, ophthalmological, and dental services, while sharing expertise and strengthening partnerships,” Crippen said.
Commander of the LAMAT Mission, Theodore Liszeski of the United States Air Force, also stressed the importance of collaboration, saying the exercise is about building readiness through partnership.
He said the professional relationships formed during the mission will help both countries respond together to future natural disasters or public health emergencies.
The Ministry of Health said the mission forms part of a wider history of health cooperation between Guyana and the United States, including support through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing technical partnerships with American medical institutions.
In addition to delivering direct care, local and visiting healthcare professionals will participate in clinical exchanges and training sessions to improve patient care and further strengthen Guyana’s health system.
The ministry said it is confident that the 2026 LAMAT Mission will expand access to specialised services for citizens while reinforcing the longstanding partnership between Guyana and the United States.
