‘More than a job; it’s my passion’ – Dr Datta

For Dr Bharati Datta, making a difference in the life of a child is one of the closest things to her heart.

Arguably this country’s foremost paediatrician, Datta has been practising medicine in St Vincent and the Grenadines for the past 30 years.

In a recent interview with SEARCHLIGHT, {{more}}the paediatrician expressed a deep love for her job and serving the many children that are placed under her care.

“I’ve always worked with children. I worked in Guyana before here and I worked in India with children,” she said.

Datta, who arrived in St Vincent in her late 20s, stressed that being a paediatrician was more than a job to her; it was a passion. In fact, the physician, who is originally from India, told SEARCHLIGHT that while she has experienced highs and lows in her career, the biggest high for her was being totally accepted by the people.

“When the children and the parents, they trust you, and that has come to me. When that comes, when you reach that point, you forget about all the lows and all the trials and all the hurdles that came your way in your working life. Like everybody else, you have to have hurdles, but when you reach a point where they trust you with their child…and trust you with their child’s health, I think that is the biggest high that you can experience,” she explained.

Datta said since she began working in St Vincent and the Grenadines, she has had many memorable experiences, but working with the World Paediatric Project and having the opportunity to care not just for Vincentian children, but children from across the Caribbean, is high on that list.

However, Datta indicated that most memorable for her is the large number of children that she has cared for over the years.

“There are very, very many, but the most memorable one is that I’ve looked after so many children over the 30 years that nothing can be more memorable than that. Children who were nine and 10 years old when I came, they now have children and I’m looking after their children as well. So I’m a grand pediatrician, if that is a term,” she said, with some amusement.

Giving an overview of what her job entails, the paediatrician stated that ensuring that a parent is aware of what is happening with his/her child is key to doing the job well.

“We pediatricians have to provide a lot of supportive care, not only to the child, but the parent and the family. When the child is the focus of the family and that child is sick, the whole family gets sick. So, as pediatricians, that is what you have to do: provide comfort to the rest of the people as well. That’s also added on in your job description,” she said.

“That only ensures care of the child when he or she leaves hospital or clinic. If you haven’t given all the information to the parents and that’s what they deserve, then you haven’t done a good job, because they have every right to know what is wrong with their child, what you’re doing with this child, what kind of treatment you are offering and what kind of follow up [is needed]. That itself will get the child out of the crisis.”

And if she had not pursued a career in medicine, what would have been her profession? Datta said quite possibly, she would have been running an Indian restaurant in St Vincent and the Grenadines

However, she noted that because “children have a special place in my heart,” her alternative career would have to be something that catered to them.

“Cooking will always come second best, but it had to be something around children. Some way or the other I want to make a difference in a child’s life,” Datta said.

Although the paediatrician confirmed that she will be retiring shortly, she has indicated that she will more than likely continue to work, even in retirement.

“I will be retiring shortly. I am in the process and I will be getting a little time off to recharge and then come back and work, as long as God gives me good health and has his grace on me, I will be here to serve the children of St Vincent,” Datta said.

“As long as I have good health, you’ll have me. I have enjoyed my stay. I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to look after the children of St Vincent and I am also honoured by the fact that even after retirement, I shall be allowed to continue my services.”