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Reply to "Issues in the Health Sector in Guyana"

Ignoring the seriously injured at Skeldon Hospital
SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER LETTERS

Dear Editor,

After reading the article of a Berbice family “Stunned by young girl’s death in Georgetown hospital”, please allow me to share my recent experience with your readers, as a Guyanese-American who lives in New York and was visiting Guyana a few weeks ago.

My brother and I were driving to Corriverton one evening and as we approached # 51 Village, on the Corentyne we saw a huge crowd and decided to stop. We wanted to see the commotion. We immediately spotted the source; an Afro Guyanese was lying in a pool of blood! The crowd that gathered just stood around gawking and talking loudly. No one even attempted to render assistance. There was a wedding party going on in the same village with everyone having a good time, but no one was willing to help.

We picked up the helpless man and took him to the nearest hospital which was, in Skeldon. He was unable to walk or stand and bleeding profusely. The next morning we paid him a visit. It was appalling to realize that the same way we dropped him off was the same way we found him. No medical attention was rendered at all!

After our startling discovery, I asked to see the doctor who was in charge. I was told that she was busy and had no time to talk to me. I told the nurse that I will call Dr. Mahadeo, CEO of Berbice Regional Health Authority in New Amsterdam to report the matter.
Upon hearing that, the doctor came out with her cell phone to her ears. After a heated argument she said to me that nothing is wrong with the man, there is nothing she can do to help him, and there is no one to take care of him, that he has to wait until Monday. She refused to give me her name.

After the argument got more heated one of the nurses mentioned that the doctor’s name is Dr. Balkarran. After this totally needless exchange, I gave the injured man’s mother $20,000 to take her son to New Amsterdam hospital and seek further medical attention. Upon arrival at New Amsterdam he was examined and found to have several fractured ribs and a punctured lung, which was taking in fluid. It seems as if some of these doctors placed in charge of caring for the helpless are trained to ignore, instead of to assist. Someone in the small crowd that gathered said. “Give her a couple hundred US dollars and see how fast she tek care a de man.” Really? Another person, whispered in my ear, “She was out last night having a good time while she should be at the hospital working.”

I wonder where is the oversight of these doctors who are in charge of the hospitals at night. Someone is snoring at the wheel. How many more deaths have to occur before this come to an end!!!

Concerned Guyanese-American

Source

I can only hope that this is really not so...I hope the authorities will respond with their side of the story.
FM
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