Strong support system needed as war is waged against COVID-19 – says Dr. Vasana Henry

Oct 25, 2020 News

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>>Champion Health Care Provider<<<

By Sharmain Grainger

Kaieteur News – God and family are the two most important things needed to keep an individual buoyed through the various phases of life. This ingrain need for such support has become especially conspicuous in wake of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Grateful that independence isn’t warranted during this period of her existence is Dr. Vasana Henry, the Medical Superintendent of the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital in Region Six. In fact, in wake of COVID-19, she has become more aware that “we are all safe by the grace of God and that family is everything.

The support of family members during this pandemic is very important for any individual. Whether you are an essential worker, patient, relative of a patient or someone in the community; we need the support of our loved ones during this pandemic. God and family are the valuable support system one can ask for.” Although direct connect with the Supreme Being is always possible, Dr. Henry noted that as a medical practitioner, in a supervisory position during this pandemic, does not augur well for family time, at least not the way she would prefer.

“To be honest, sometimes its nerve breaking to balance family and work time together…however, with God’s grace, frequent communications with family and my close friends, I can find that balance. A lot of times work takes precedent to my family life because I want the residents of East Corentyne, Berbice to have the best care possible from our health sector,” said Dr. Henry as she confidently intimated “my family is very understanding and supportive during these times.” A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL IS BORN But exactly why did Dr. Henry opt to delve into a profession that demands so much of her time and effort? Well, it will become clear as we rewind the clock a few years to gain some insight into Dr. Henry’s life. On July 17, 1984, a baby girl was ushered into the world. Her parents, Gavin Britton, an accountant/educator and Pamela Henry, a nurse/health administrator, named her Vasana Kandacy Henry. The elder of two children born to the couple, Dr. Henry recalled growing up in the Boeraserie Housing Scheme on the West Coast of Demerara. She attended the Zeelugt Primary School, the Stewartville Secondary School, the Government Technical Institute and later the University of Guyana in preparation for her medical career. Ever since she was a child, Dr. Henry shared, she had a desire to become a doctor. The reason for this, as she explained, was because “I was born with a disability. I was born with a diagnosis of Right Femoral Agenesis and my gait is aided by the use of prosthesis. My disability is the driving force

behind me becoming a doctor because I wanted to help other neonates with congenital malformation.” IMPACT ON HEALTHCARE Now residing in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Dr. Henry has been practising medicine for the past eight years. Prior to becoming the Medical Superintendent, she was tasked with managing the Tuschen Health Centre in a supervisory position and as a medical practitioner. She also had a stint at the West Demerara Regional Hospital as a Permanent Government Medical Officer in the Paediatric Department, where she had the responsibility of supervising the Department. While there, she was even privileged to serve as the Chairperson/Medical Practitioner of the Infection, Prevention and Control Committee. Dr. Henry recalled being responsible for the assessment of the institution’s disease prevention protocols and waste management. Today, even in the face of a pandemic, Dr. Henry has no regrets that she chose to become a doctor. According to this health professional, “The fact that I can make positive changes in someone’s life; being able to make someone dreams of becoming a mother come through after years of miscarriages by applying what I would have learnt during my formative years and paying extra attention to my patients” are but some of the reasons that have kept her grounded. But she candidly admitted that “COVID-19 has affected the delivery of health care in a lot of ways. It has caused us to move away from what was known as the normal to the new normal. We have learnt to implement what we would have learnt during our formative years at Medical School and Internship.” The emergence of COVID-19, she noted, has essentially reiterated the need for “all of us to follow safe hygiene practices. As part of the management team in Region Six, I had to make some tough decisions to keep staff, patients and their relative safe when accessing services at our institutions.” EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS But while some may be convinced that the COVID-19 fight is reserved for health care providers, Dr. Henry was pellucid when she insisted that “it is everybody’s business and issue.” “The medical fraternity cannot fight this alone without the help of all the people in this great country of ours. All of us have someone that we associate who has a co-morbidity. Example, Patient ‘X’ might not have any symptoms of the disease but is positive. When ‘X’ goes home or passes by a relative or friend, then ‘X’ can pass the virus to that individual whose immune system cannot fight the disease. So, if we all play our part in fighting this disease then our country would be able to bend the curve and return to the new normal,” said Dr. Henry. Her disclosure in this regard comes even as the country nears the 4,000 mark in terms of positive COVID-19 cases, with a total of 119 deaths, at the time of writing this article. Despite the Ministry’s efforts to keep the nation aware of this daunting state of affairs by way of daily updates, Dr. Henry noted that there are far too many among us who are convinced that “COVID-19 is not real.” This she has observed in the very Region she is tasked with providing quality health care. “I want to assure the residents of East Corentyne, Berbice that COVID-19 is real and is here.” Although the numbers remain small, the stench of death has emanated from positive cases in the Region and Dr. Henry anticipates that with increased testing, “we are expecting cases to increase.” For this reason, her appeal is for “residents of Region Six to be responsible in their interaction with each other; mask up, practice social distancing, sanitize or wash your hands frequently.” SACRIFICE AND HARD WORK Reflecting on her professional journey, Dr. Henry assured that becoming a physician is a very rewarding and prestigious career. But she admitted, “it comes with sacrifice and hard work.” But according to her, “When you have saved a life or hold a neonate in your hands that you would have aided into this world, there is no better feeling. These are the indicators that the decision to become a physician was the right one.” Although pleased with her accomplishments thus far, she intoned, “there is more that I would like to contribute to the health sector. As a health care professional, there is always more to learn and implement for the continuous well-being of the population; hence my job is not done.” Dr. Henry has yet to check off on her bucket list, the building of a home for the elderly designed to provide them with maximum care and support during what she calls “this critical time of their life.” This ambitious medical practitioner also has a passion for human resource and policy development within the health care system to provide universal coverage for the Guyanese population. As such, within the next 10 years, she anticipates moving into a medical director role where she will be able to implement innovative health programming and policies for the overall health of the population. Going beyond the walls of the hospital, she has collaborated with various Faith-Based and Empowerment Organizations to introduce yearly outreaches that address the medical needs of persons across the length and breadth of Guyana. “I am also a volunteer attached to the Guyana Community Based Rehabilitation Programme, an NGO which mainly focuses on the integration of persons with disabilities into society,” said Dr. Henry who also gains immense satisfaction from reading novels, cooking and travelling. For being able to defy the odds to fulfil the agenda of advancing the delivery of health care of our nation, today, with the blessings of the Ministry of Health, we bestow the title of ‘Champion Health Care Provider’ to Dr. Henry.

 

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