By Michel Outridge

The patient-friendly health centre at Long Creek Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway is under the stewardship of a very humble healthcare provider, Dr. Levi Percival.

It is probably because of his welcoming disposition that patients feel a sense of relief when visiting for check-ups or due to emergencies.

Dr. Levi told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is in charge of the facility and treats his staff and patients the same. He listens and he is able to deliver the professional healthcare they need.

He has been there for the past three years and from the looks of it, he really likes his job, especially with his open-door policy.

Dr. Levi said that the Long Creek Health Centre oversees three health posts: Silver Hill, Moblissa and Dora. He revealed that the facilities are responsible for about 3500 residents, who are dispersed over 80 kilometres.

Dr. Levi added that at Long Creek, they offer numerous services, including antenatal clinic, adolescent clinic, outpatient, chronic diseases, child health clinic, infant clinic, dressing, family planning and outreaches between the hours of 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs from Mondays to Fridays.

The Long Creek Health Centre has 10 staffers, all professional and capable of dealing with patient-intake in the event he is not there.

Dr. Levi disclosed that back in the 1970s the health centre used to be a cottage hospital and it opened its doors after the first stone was laid on November 21, 1976 by the then Minister of Health Dr. O.M. Harper.

MATERNAL HUB

This Health Centre will soon boast a brand new Maternal Hub for expectant mothers.

“The Maternal Hub will serve as a waiting room for mothers, who are two weeks away from delivery to be safely transferred to have their deliveries done at a regional hospital,” he said.

Even though the facility, which is located in the compound of the Long Creek Health Centre, has the capacity to deliver babies that is not their foremost objective.

The building is 90 percent physically completed, but it has to be fully equipped before it is ready to admit late-stage pregnancy.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

“I really appreciate the doctor/patient time when ill people come here to seek medical attention. I get to interact with them and am able to diagnose them properly and bring about medical intervention to make them get better,” he said.

Dr. Levi added that his primary goal as a health professional is to assist people to achieve a long, healthy life.

“As a doctor the opportunity presents itself to give yourself to humanity and even though I am paid, it is a gift to serve people which is my personal motivation as a healthcare worker.”

Dr. Levi added that he is a resident of Soesdyke and the daily commute is taxing, but it is all in a day’s work.

He pointed out that as simple as it seems, a smile from a patient or a quick talk brightens his day and makes it worthwhile, no matter what kind of a day he is having.