Dear Editor,
Super move! I am happy for all of us as the United States and Guyana are set to launch the 2026 Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Teams (LAMAT) mission. In a nut shell, this is a health security cooperation engagement, designed to strengthen partnerships, enhance medical readiness, and improve access to care across the Caribbean. This Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) is really a big thing, involving a U.S. Southern Command-supported humanitarian mission where a U.S. Air Force medical professionals’ partner with Caribbean nations to provide specialised medical care, exchange knowledge, and strengthen health systems. LAMAT teams typically include surgeons, nurses, and technicians who perform surgeries (e.g., eye, dental) and support local, resource-constrained clinics.
According to the press release from the U.S. Embassy in Guyana, the mission will take place from March 16 to 27 at Ministry of Health-designated facilities across Guyana, and during this period, U.S. military medical professionals will work alongside Guyanese health care providers to deliver patient care, conduct medical knowledge exchanges, and collaborate on best practices aimed at strengthening readiness and interoperability. This kind of collaboration is always a good thing, as U.S. medical teams operating in various countries (ranging from large-scale government initiatives to short-term humanitarian missions) provide critical benefits for both host nations and the participating professionals. These efforts often focus on addressing immediate crises while fostering long-term stability and health security. It is a big win-win for all of us in Guyana and I hope we really capitalise.
Affirming what I just said, Col. Brian Gavitt, Command Surgeon for Air Forces Southern, noted that “LAMAT is about building enduring relationships that outlast any single mission, (detailing that) by collaborating closely with our Guyanese partners, we’re strengthening our interoperability, sharing knowledge, and reinforcing the trust that allows us to work together effectively in times of need. As Guyana marks its 60th anniversary, it’s an especially fitting moment to stand together and invest in a partnership focused on readiness, resilience, and the health of our communities.” By the way, I just love the sense of mutuality and reciprocity; it is about ‘us’ and ‘we.’
In this regard, we can look forward for some huge corporate and personal benefits in key areas such as “… general surgery, primary care, dentistry, optometry, emergency medicine, and preventive health services.” Quite a gamut! Add to this “…the mission will emphasise professional exchanges designed to strengthen long-term medical capacity and regional resilience.”
Editor, I am reminded of a 2025 WHO/World Bank report that states “Global health challenges in 2026 focus on bridging inequities in care, with 1.6 billion people (still) facing financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health costs. Even in the U.S., Medicare can cost a fortune. This LAMAT opportune moment then is one to be thankful for.