Dear Editor,
Here we have it on our hands once more: the (apparently preventable) death of my UG classmate, Esther Dwarka-Bowlin, an educator, an academic, a head teacher, a student, who, in just over two years would have graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and who would have been added to the hundreds of skilled and qualified teachers in this great land of ours. Once again, in just a matter of weeks, another mother was taken away from her children. Why on earth do some people suffer these kinds of fate, I ask?
Skeldon Hospital, without a doubt, would be a place where a hive of activity would be taking place this week. I presume that the ‘big ones’ with their diaries and notepads have arrived already and started to question everyone – interviewing persons and filling their pages with the details of the horrible incident. The highest levels, meaning the Minister and his senior officers, too, I am sure, are demanding a full report on their desks. And then what? After all the commotion of interviews and information gathering and evidence collecting, then what?
I shudder to think that the death of this young lady would be for nothing as more hospital slip- ups and carelessness mixed with unprofessionalism and sometimes unprincipled behaviour would continue to be a feature of this and other health facilities around Guyana.
For too long Guyanese have been complaining about the shabby treatment that their family members and themselves are given whilst visiting their loved ones in the hospitals, or even during their admission to these facilities. For too long, some nurses have allowed their uncouth standards and actions to take precedence over their mandate and vow to administer the best possible healthcare and treatment to patients with whom they come into contact. I say this, something is very wrong with the attitudes of some nurses in the hospitals. This I know from experience, as it was only the other day when I witnessed uncompassionate behaviour from a few in the New Amsterdam Hospital. How some of them treat my fellow Guyanese – the stories I hear – makes my blood boil. And I always hear that some Guyanese who visit public hospitals are not pleased with the apparent language barrier between themselves and some Cuban doctors. Some persons say that the doctors have difficulty understanding their problems.
A few years ago, it was recognized that our nation had been gripped by a wave of bad manners. The so-called ‘War on Bad Manners’ initiative was subsequently launched. I believe our people continue along this same path of unsavoury conduct and displays. Bad manners are everywhere, and not only in the health system. People are so edgy and always ready to be discourteous.
The nurses alone are not to be blamed for this young lady’s death. The entire healthcare system in Guyana needs a serious revamp, immediately.
More Guyanese ought to come forth and speak out at the injustices meted out to them by the public healthcare system.
It is only when people stand up for their rights and expose what needs to be exposed then their voices would be heard.
What we as a nation need to see – or rather hear – at this point is not a speech that a full investigation would be carried out, or perpetrators brought to justice; what we we want is to see action. We want to see disciplinary action swiftly taken – not next month or in next 3 months –against those found culpable in this most distressing story. Not only would Guyanese expect that events such as these never take place again, but they would expect a full investigation into the other matters which took place over the past months when women died under questionable circumstances.
Health care facilities are supposed to be places where the sick and those who crave medical attention find renewed health, and healing, and are treated with respect as if they were human beings. This is are they should be given the best assistance and services from healthcare professionals who are given a monthly salary from the taxes paid by those same persons who require healthcare.
Where does the buck stop? There must, must be justice for the family of Esther Dwarka-Bowlin.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran
