Written By Michael Khan
ON the evening of Monday October 28, Jeune Bailey Vankeric, 49, a Guyana Chronicle correspondent in New Amsterdam, Berbice, was bitten by two dogs on both of her legs at Lot 49 Stanleytown, also in New Amsterdam.

The journalist proceeded to the Central Police Station and was referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital with a medical form which had to be filled by a medical practitioner after consultation. Vankeric related that her woes began when she proceeded to the medical institution for assistance.

“On arrival at the hospital, I stood for about 10 minutes awaiting someone to open the door at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department but to no avail. Someone who stood close by then related that they (the hospital staff) closed the door so I peeped through a window and saw nurses standing, while a doctor was on her cell phone, so there were no cases of emergencies that were being dealt with. I proceeded to relate my plight to a security guard who then advised that I use another entrance in an attempt to consult a doctor,” Vankeric stated.

The media practitioner then made her way to the A&E Department through another point of entry and was accosted by a nurse who allegedly asked: “What you want?”
Vankeric said that she explained her condition to the nurse who remained adamant that, she (Vankeric) should get out of the building and be seated under a shed where other patients were sitting while awaiting consultation.

“As this nurse continued her rantings, I maintained that I needed medical attention because I was nauseated. Luckily, a female doctor approached and promised to address my concerns, not before being rudely asked by the nurse if she is desirous of attending to me,” Vankeric related.

PLAYING ‘CATCHER’
As the female doctor asked Vankeric to be seated while asking her a few questions about herself, three young female nurses in the A&E Department were allegedly seen playing a game of ‘catcher’ while fondling each other’s breasts in the process.

“After the episode of fondling, they started to discuss the possibility of going to a local television station and voicing their concerns about the shortage of bandage and other medical paraphernalia and, what they would do if their relatives go to the hospital and cannot access proper health care.
“As the nurses continued their discourse, the doctor asked me what is my profession and I hesitated before revealing in a moderate tone that I am a journalist. Upon hearing this, the doctor pleaded with me not to publicise the negative behaviour of the nurses, but I offered no guarantee as she tried her best to address my condition.”

Vankeric added that she was then required to get a tetanus injection but was unable to access one from the Public Health Department of the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) because it was late. She was able to obtain the vaccine from a private medical practitioner in the township, after leaving the hospital complex.

Vankeric, who was once part of the medical fraternity, said that she is able to identify the nurse who allegedly verbally harassed her but she is not desirous of providing vital information to the officials as that may result in serious repercussions on the part of the medical practitioner.

Maintaining that she would not like to experience a recurrence, she added: “This nurse was very rude but I don’t want to take bread out of her mouth but I would like to remind her and her colleagues, to remember the Florence Nightingale oath (a nursing pledge) and practise what they have been trained to do.”

Another Stanleytown, New Amsterdam resident, Paul Soman told the Guyana Chronicle that his son, Paul Soman (jnr),8, was bitten by a dog three weeks ago and when he took the child for medical attention at the N/A Hospital, he was told there were no medical supplies available to dress the wound.
“The nurse told me that the Government don’t have any medical supplies so I had to go to a pharmacy and purchase stuff to clean and dress my son’s wound,” he alleged.

ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Berbice Regional Health Authority, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo while addressing the BRHA senior staff at a quarterly meeting in the presence of Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, yesterday said that there is a zero tolerance approach towards dealing with delinquent staff.

“I want to make it clear, that the BRHA and Ministry of Health have taken a zero-tolerance approach towards people (staff) who are not providing quality health care services. We have asked persons who have legitimate complaints to come forward with information so that we can take the necessary action once our staff is found culpable,” Mahadeo stressed.

It was pointed out that in the past workers were sent on leave, suspended and even dismissed for inappropriate conduct on the job and the BRHA will continue to deal with persons who are bent on portraying a negative image of the regional health system.

“We are not going to tolerate any form of rudeness, refusal of care or negative comments from our staff; if they can’t fit into the system, they will have to get out,” the CEO declared.