Medical Elective in Guyana by Ross Hutchinson
let me introduce myself. I'm a medical student in my final year, and I've been given two months to do as I please, a unique opportunity to broaden my experience. I could have gone to the 'American institute ofYery Clever Medicine' or perhaps Sydney to study the effects of solar radiation on the indigenous population, but I was looking for an entirely different experience. I've always had a desire to work in a developing country, and I decided it was now or never, after all Bondi beach would always be there.
So I was overjoyed when, after a fruitful afternoon on the internet, the Jesuit Missions sent me a quick and helpful reply. My senior school had once been run by Jesuits, so apart from medicine, I was also very curious to learn something of the work of the church in another country.
Arriving in Guyana was quite a culture shock. My plan was to work at St Joseph's Mercy Hospital, run by the Sisters of Mercy, whilst staying at the Sacred Heart Presbytery in the centre of Georgetown. On arriving at the Sacred Heart I was met by Fr Aloysius Church, who explained the local geography and helped me find my feet. That afternoon he drove me to the hospital to meet Sr Sheilagh, the chief executive, who is one of those people who has the gift of making you feel instantly welcome. She took the afternoon off to introduce me to all the staff. St Joseph's Mercy Hospital is privately run on a non-profit basis. It is one of the most well maintained hospitals in the country, housing an accident and emergency department, two operating theatres, and has beds for about 30 patients.
My main interest is surgery, so I was taken under the wing of the hospital's three main surgeons Drs. Sewar, Persaud and Jeffries, who were more than happy to teach me and, sometimes, allowed me to assist.
Things were different at Mercy from what I was used to back home, and I soon appreciated how lucky we are in the UK with our own National Health Service. However, much to the innovation, skill and dedication of the staff, difficult and modern operations were performed with a standard of patient care which was second to none.
Apart from the operating theatre I was given the opportunity to work with Mercy Hospital's mobile health clinic. This aims to bring primary health care to communities in the Georgetown area, helping to manage long-term conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. During my stay the clinic ventured out twice weekly, equipped with one doctor, two nurses, a pharmacist, a social worker, and the occasional medical student. The popularity of this service was obvious, wherever we stopped - often a church hall - the place would be crammed full of people, each jostling for first place in the queue. On one occasion Sr Sheilagh asked me to give a talk to the assembled population on 'How to reduce your blood pressure'. I was slightly worried that my vaguely cockney accent, might not be understood, and also a bit nervous that things might get ugly when I told them, that they all had stop drinking, smoking and lose weight.
However, nobody took offence and they all seemed to appreciate my advice. After a month in Georgetown, a golden opportunity arose to join up with Fr Paul O'Reilly at lethem and work in the interior. This was to be the most memorable fortnight of my life. After fifteen hours travelling through the rainforest on the back of a Bedford truck I arrived at St Ignatius village to be welcomed by Frs. Britt-Compton, Martin and O'Reilly. Fr O'Reilly is a unique individual, as well as being a priest he is also a doctor and, as part of his mission, he volunteers his services at the 20-bed local hospital in lethem. The contrast between the coast and lethem was enormous, the pace of life was much slower, the people who lived there were mainly indigenous Amerindians. Unlike Georgetown, crime was virtually nonexistent and - except for the remote possibility of being attacked by a jaguar - I could wander about safely at night.
Life was simple; I would get up when the sun rose and go to sleep soon after it set. Mass was said every morning, followed by breakfast then clinics with Fr O'Reilly starting at 9am. One of the nights I spent in lethem Hospital was very memorable as an Amerindian woman was in the final stages of labour, and I was assisting the midwife. I must confess, I was amazed at how silent and composed this lady remained during her labour contractions, but I was told that this type of stoicism was typical amongst the Amerindians. Just as the baby was being delivered there was a power cut. The darkness was so complete that I couldn't even see my hand in front of me, let alone the baby. luckily I had my torch close to hand, and the hospital porter was quickly there to set up some gas lights. That night I walked home through the inky darkness feeling that I had had one of those experiences which I would remember for the rest of my life.
looking back at my time in this most beautiful and mysterious country that is Guyana, I feel a great deal of thanks for meeting such hospitable, kind and deserving people. I pray for the work of the Jesuits, the Mercy Sisters, the staff of Mercy Hospital and I would like to thank all who helped organise my - all too shorttime in Guyana.
So I was overjoyed when, after a fruitful afternoon on the internet, the Jesuit Missions sent me a quick and helpful reply. My senior school had once been run by Jesuits, so apart from medicine, I was also very curious to learn something of the work of the church in another country.
Arriving in Guyana was quite a culture shock. My plan was to work at St Joseph's Mercy Hospital, run by the Sisters of Mercy, whilst staying at the Sacred Heart Presbytery in the centre of Georgetown. On arriving at the Sacred Heart I was met by Fr Aloysius Church, who explained the local geography and helped me find my feet. That afternoon he drove me to the hospital to meet Sr Sheilagh, the chief executive, who is one of those people who has the gift of making you feel instantly welcome. She took the afternoon off to introduce me to all the staff. St Joseph's Mercy Hospital is privately run on a non-profit basis. It is one of the most well maintained hospitals in the country, housing an accident and emergency department, two operating theatres, and has beds for about 30 patients.
My main interest is surgery, so I was taken under the wing of the hospital's three main surgeons Drs. Sewar, Persaud and Jeffries, who were more than happy to teach me and, sometimes, allowed me to assist.
Things were different at Mercy from what I was used to back home, and I soon appreciated how lucky we are in the UK with our own National Health Service. However, much to the innovation, skill and dedication of the staff, difficult and modern operations were performed with a standard of patient care which was second to none.
Apart from the operating theatre I was given the opportunity to work with Mercy Hospital's mobile health clinic. This aims to bring primary health care to communities in the Georgetown area, helping to manage long-term conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. During my stay the clinic ventured out twice weekly, equipped with one doctor, two nurses, a pharmacist, a social worker, and the occasional medical student. The popularity of this service was obvious, wherever we stopped - often a church hall - the place would be crammed full of people, each jostling for first place in the queue. On one occasion Sr Sheilagh asked me to give a talk to the assembled population on 'How to reduce your blood pressure'. I was slightly worried that my vaguely cockney accent, might not be understood, and also a bit nervous that things might get ugly when I told them, that they all had stop drinking, smoking and lose weight.
However, nobody took offence and they all seemed to appreciate my advice. After a month in Georgetown, a golden opportunity arose to join up with Fr Paul O'Reilly at lethem and work in the interior. This was to be the most memorable fortnight of my life. After fifteen hours travelling through the rainforest on the back of a Bedford truck I arrived at St Ignatius village to be welcomed by Frs. Britt-Compton, Martin and O'Reilly. Fr O'Reilly is a unique individual, as well as being a priest he is also a doctor and, as part of his mission, he volunteers his services at the 20-bed local hospital in lethem. The contrast between the coast and lethem was enormous, the pace of life was much slower, the people who lived there were mainly indigenous Amerindians. Unlike Georgetown, crime was virtually nonexistent and - except for the remote possibility of being attacked by a jaguar - I could wander about safely at night.
Life was simple; I would get up when the sun rose and go to sleep soon after it set. Mass was said every morning, followed by breakfast then clinics with Fr O'Reilly starting at 9am. One of the nights I spent in lethem Hospital was very memorable as an Amerindian woman was in the final stages of labour, and I was assisting the midwife. I must confess, I was amazed at how silent and composed this lady remained during her labour contractions, but I was told that this type of stoicism was typical amongst the Amerindians. Just as the baby was being delivered there was a power cut. The darkness was so complete that I couldn't even see my hand in front of me, let alone the baby. luckily I had my torch close to hand, and the hospital porter was quickly there to set up some gas lights. That night I walked home through the inky darkness feeling that I had had one of those experiences which I would remember for the rest of my life.
looking back at my time in this most beautiful and mysterious country that is Guyana, I feel a great deal of thanks for meeting such hospitable, kind and deserving people. I pray for the work of the Jesuits, the Mercy Sisters, the staff of Mercy Hospital and I would like to thank all who helped organise my - all too shorttime in Guyana.