Dear Editor,
One of my elders once lamented the tendency to be more generous with criticism than praise. In other words, “gie Jack he jacket.” Please therefore allow me to share my personal experiences with our public health system over the past few months.
I first visited the Caribbean Heart Institute. The staff were excellent, equipment in place and working, and the service equivalent to – if not better than – what I have experienced in more developed countries. As a public-private partnership, CHI offers excellent value for money.
Next, I visited the Malaria Unit at Georgetown Public Hospital. While they did not have the medicine to treat my ‘bush yaws,’ I received prompt advice on my treatment options and lots of apologies that the system did not have the medicine. Three staff at different times who noticed me during my 10 minutes’ wait kept asking, “You getting through?”
Finally, I visited the regional hospital in Lethem, which seemed in very good shape. The nurses on duty obliged me with a minimum of fuss, quickly offering the friendly and competent care needed. It is true that there are challenges in our public health system (such as no medicine for bush yaws). It is also evident that some things are going well, and credit must go to all those who have worked hard to improve our free medical care system. Please thus permit me to thank the staff whose professionalism and courtesy made it impossible for me not to write this letter – Dr Carpen, Radhika, Fiona and others at CHI, Drs Rayman, Kellman and several others at the Malaria Unit, and nurses Rebecca Paul and Celicia Thomas at the Lethem hospital. The quality of their care was much appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
Lawrence Lachmansingh
