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Social activist wants foreign health workers to be taught English language

Nov 06, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am writing to bring attention to a troubling interaction I had last week when I stopped at the Mahaica Hospital to make a routine inquiry. There were three nurses and one doctor by the outpatient desk. I had one simple question which I directed to them all. To my great surprise, they all looked at me blankly. I repeated my query. Again, instead of an answer I just got blank looks. I repeated my question for a third time. Still no answer. I realized then, that none of the individuals were Guyanese and that English was not their first language; it appeared that they were all Cuban.
I want to make clear that I have a great deal of love for Cuba and the Cuban people. I appreciate the fact that they have been strong allies of Guyana for many decades, providing scholarships and training for many of Guyanese, as well as providing invaluable service in Guyana. I found it very troubling however, that these healthcare providers could not answer the simple question I had. I only got a response after I pointed to a poster on the wall that mentioned the thing I was inquiring about. But even then, the answer wasn’t totally clear.
This is problematic because communication and understanding is crucial between the person seeking medical assistance and the healthcare provider. Miscommunication can lead to misdiagnosis as well as inaccurate consumption of medication etc- things which can have very serious repercussions for one’s health. This issue is not isolated to the staff at the Mahaica Hospital either; I have heard similar complaints from Guyanese visiting numerous other healthcare facilities around the country.
It is good that Cuban and other foreign healthcare professionals are working in Guyana helping to supplement our healthcare services, but more efforts should be made to ensure that they are better trained and fluent in the English language (as well as Creolese idiom) so they are able to communicate properly with the Guyanese public. Failing that, translators should be provided at all facilities where these foreign workers are employed.
Sherlina Nageer

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