Disgusted at letter writer’s attack on Fancy Health Clinic

Tue Dec 17, 2013

Editor: My disgust stems from the letter to the editor with the caption: “I am totally dissatisfied with the service and staff at the Fancy Health Centre”, written by an ex-resident and I want the reading public to take note by an EX-RESIDENT, who has not lived in the community for more than 15 years. I am a present resident of this remote village and have been all of my life. I want to state first and foremost that this so called ex-resident does not have the moral authority, or any authority for that matter, to speak for a community with a population of over 500 residents.{{more}} Let him/her speak solely for him/herself. So, when it is expressed that “the people of Fancy are…” that is the first attempt made at spreading propaganda and mischief and in so doing raise alarm.

The staff at the Fancy Health Centre comprises a staff nurse with 13+ years, a nursing assistant with 7+ years and a community health aid with 3+ years of service to the community of Fancy and surrounding villages. All of them are living in Fancy. Over these years they have provided superb health care services that the majority of residents are very proud of. Some persons thrive on simply causing mischief and spreading propaganda when they failed to acknowledge their faults and mistakes when dealing with the workers of the health centre.

The nurses know their duties all too well and when needs be they have to act on the advice of their superiors and in accordance with the nurses’ code. They are well aware, unlike many of the so-called educated among us, that it is not their call to diagnose the condition of any client who comes through the doors of the health centre. They first would have to contact the district doctor and whatsoever he/she says then they would give advice to clients; that is how I understand it. Therefore, for me or the next person to dictate to them what they should or shouldn’t do or say is outright disrespectful. They would have gone through several years of training, as any other professional, and are well qualified in their field of work.They know what it is that their job description spells out. Therefore, for this ex-resident to state that the nurses do not know what they are doing is just slanderous.

Recently, I have had a member of my family who experienced the excellent service and dedication to their job when the nursing assistant, who was on vacation, was called by the staff nurse who was in a meeting in Kingstown to go and assist a client who had to be taken to the hospital on advice from the doctor on call, and this she did without out murmuring. This is the kind of willingness to duty and love for people that is displayed by our excellent staff at the clinic. There are numerous times when the nurse on call has to call the other who isn’t to come and assist in an emergency at the health centre and they would. Furthermore, the services of the nurses at all hours of the night, no matter what weather conditions are up, is commendable. They would quickly jump out of their sleep to attend to the needs of the people. This is something I really admire about the staff. I do believe that most health centres close promptly at 4 p.m. This health centre opens on time for service at 8 a.m. and nurses can still be found at their workplace some days as late as 5 p.m.

It was reported that the Ministry of Health needs to screen persons for the profession. To this claim, I say that all ministries, especially Education, should do likewise, because some teachers leave much to be desired and their behaviour in public does not set good examples for our children to emulate.

My entire family and I are totally satisfied with the services rendered by the excellent staff at the clinic. Over the years they continue to display selflessness and devotion to their duties and I would like to openly, as I have done from time to time, thank them and encourage them to do what they are trained to do.

The Bible can never lie. It tells us in Mark 6:4: “But Jesus said unto them, a prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” This is being manifested in this venomous piece of filth by the so-called ex-resident, in an attempt to defame the characters of the nurses at the health centre. I say to the ex-resident, be careful what you wish for, it might just come back to haunt you.

Therefore, to the staff I leave this verse of scripture with you: Isaiah 54:19: “No weapon formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that rise up against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn.This is the heritage of the servants of the lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”

RESIDENT OF FANCY