The Silence of the Lambs

Jul 21, 2018 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Today I happened to view an interesting feed of various regional leaders (Chair and Vice Chairpersons) of the Regions One, Eight and Nine who had a session of interaction with the media on the sidelines of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting.
The content of their concerns was mostly similar in nature, with major issues being the state of the means of transportation (roads) in their regions, the halt of the Land Titling and Demarcation activities in the villages of the indigenous brethren in these regions, the lack of cooperation of Central Government and the RDCs in successfully completing proposed projects for the past and current fiscal years and the chronic shortage of drugs and of other Medical Supplies to the health facilities of these regions.
I am no Politician and my views are expressed without preference for any Political Organization but as my eyes and ears have led me to believe, these leaders were representing regions which recently showed strong support for the current opposition.
Many have voiced opinions that the state of affairs was never as bad during the previous administration and statements such as “Guyana is not the coast alone” and “we are also Guyanese” struck a chord with me. Are things really worse than before? I hope not and if things may seem that way I pray for major improvements.
I also happened to watch another news story where a young leader, the current Regional Health Officer (recently back from post graduate studies in Israel) of Region Three was giving glowing remarks to the improvement of Health Services in his region. He mentioned four different indices of healthcare which were improved upon for the current year in comparison with the previous year and the improvement in the availability of drugs in the different health facilities in Region Three.
He also asked for all persons residing in the region to first seek medical attention in their respective health centres before going to the hospitals since there was a doctor readily available in every centre. If this is really true, great work Dr. Dudhnath.
This young RHO is the second to make this statement of “a doctor in every health centre” following on the footsteps of Dr. Quincy Jones (RHO Region Four) a few weeks back. Again I must congratulate the Health Department of Regions Three and Four.
Now I must return to the other conference where all the leaders of the three regions mentioned earlier were soliciting more doctors and the timely deliverance of drugs and medical supplies. Who are the RHOs of these regions and why do they not have the drugs as the other two?
Is it their fault or is the issue with the famed MMU department of the Ministry of Public Health. As far as Public knowledge is concerned the Minister of Public Health most recently debunked the theory of there being a shortage of drugs in the country. However the situation in the outlying regions tells another tale.
Maybe it’s because of the roads? I dare not think that after the huge sums spent on drugs and all the issues of the suppliers of same that there continues to be a drug shortage in the country.
A very worrying complaint of the Chairman of Region One was of the influx of “refugees” in his region from our neighbouring country to the west. These refugees are members of the Warrau tribe from the Orinoco Riverain areas who have escaped prosecution from the nefarious Syndicato Gang and the economic hardships of Venezuela’s current situation.
There are currently more than 300 officially documented refugees living in the villages of Region One whose wellbeing depends totally on what is offered by the residents and leaders of this region. The chairman has made it quite clear that his region is stretched to the limit in terms of what the people can offer and it is time for central government to take over or assist in resolving this mini crisis.
Many of these refugees have not been adequately vaccinated and a number are suffering from illnesses such as Malaria and Tuberculosis, and almost all from malnutrition. The health department of the region most certainly has its hands full and as I would like to believe would most certainly be requesting more personnel and medical supplies from MOPH to help alleviate the situation.
Where would these doctors, nurses, lab technicians, etc. be solicited from? Maybe the CDC has the answer. I’m more inclined to believe that these regions full of doctors might have to lend a few to help out the situation in Region One.
This brings me to the most important part of my letter. A few years ago, these doctors who are currently filling all the health centres and hospitals in the country were lambasted as “half baked” by a certain Freddie Kissoon. These doctors, the majority Cuban-trained were portrayed as being inept and undercooked in medical knowledge by the columnist and many Guyanese were supportive of his opinion. Many still are.
The formation of the current Doctors was part of an historic agreement between the then President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Cuban Leader Fidel Castro Ruz, to provide better health care to all underprivileged countries, Guyana included.
The chief financier of this project was the Cuban Government and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela led by then President Hugo Chavez Frias. Long may the souls of these great men rest in peace! A grand total of almost 800 doctors were to be formed to return to Guyana to help the needy and give the gift of healing which was taught by their Cuban professors.
Solidarity, humbleness, professionalism, and patriotism were few of the values taught to these doctors.
Five years ago, Guyana was blessed to have the first big batch of almost 270 medical doctors return to serve the country, and served they did; five long years of contractual obligation to the Guyana Government and the population, for having invested in them. These five years are soon coming to an end. Its 44 days exactly of contractual obligation that the majority of these doctors have with the government.
On September 2, 2018, they can choose to stay and serve more, to go private or to sell their service to the highest bidder. The half baked doctors are suddenly an enticing lot. Will the health centres remain filled with doctors? Will there be a mass exodus? Will the system be greatly affected? Questions I wished I had the answer to.
What I am most certain is that these doctors will be valued wherever they go with their five years of experience. Their salaries will finally be a reflection of their worth.
No more being on call for 24hrs for Guy$1800. No more going on a plane at night in the hinterland with no risk allowance; no more going and work in the hinterland where prices are 3 times that of the coast and no hinterland allowance; no more housing allowance of Guy $600; no more being doctor, nurse, porter, lab tech and service plus all in one.
No more lambasting their efforts and virtually accusing them of (stealing) misappropriating public funds as was recently done by the PS (MOPH) at a conference of Regional Health Officers. Has MOPH done its utmost to keep these doctors? Only time will tell.
The government and especially the MOPH have a great task at hand. I do hope they would have adequately planned for the future of Guyana and the health of its people. Let the good times get better while we continue to enjoy the present. For the next 44 days let us fully appreciate, “the silence of the lambs”.
Yours Sincerely
Gustavo Kuerten.

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