– Community Health Worker of Morashee Village

By Michel Outridge

LUCIAN Harry has an important job as the only Community Health Worker attached to the Morashee Health Post and is a resident of the nearby village of Bendroff, East Bank Essequibo.

At 19 years old, she has a lot of responsibilities including manning the health post all by herself and tending to patients five days per week.

Although patients aren’t many, when they do show up they are very sick and need immediate medical attention.

The cases she cannot handle, she would refer to the Parika Health Centre for further treatment.

Harry told the Pepperpot Magazine that she would collect a monthly supply of drugs from the Regional Hospital at Best Village, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and also ensures that the place is clean and well-kept for patients.

For this riverine nurse, some days are better than others because when she has a lot of patients, she has to work to make sure they are all treated before leaving the facility.

Harry would commute by boat with a paddle through an internal canal to Morashee Health Post, Mondays to Fridays.

It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to paddle via the canal to the Health Post.

Harry disclosed that when a patient shows up at the facility she would triage that person first and then listen to their health complaint before administering any medication.

If she has drugs and can deal with the patient, she would, if not, she would refer that person to the Parika Health Centre.

Harry has all the protocols in place for COVID-19 and everyone must wear a face mask before entering the health post.

She has her protective gear but so far, she hasn’t encountered anyone with COVID-19.

However, every fourth Thursday of the month a doctor would visit and that is when they have clinics, so there is an influx of patients.

Harry has been at the location since August last year and is liking her job very much because she likes to help people.

Her parents are from the North West District and she has nine siblings.

The Morashee Health Post offers a wide range of services and they have the relevant drugs in stock in a secure room.

The facility has a doctor’s office, a stock room, toilet facilities, a water tank, examination room and a room for the nurse, plus the triage area.

Most illnesses she would see are patients with seasonal colds and flu, fever, skin infections and chronic diseases.

To get to the health post one must do so via boat and when riverine people get ill they would utilise the services and Nurse Harry would willingly assist to make them better.

She would often go beyond the call of duty to help sick people and would leave her home at nights to assist people in need of medical attention.

“I like my job because it is what I wanted to do ever since I was a young girl growing up, so it is a dream come true for me and I am very pleased to serve my community,” she said.

Delano Williams photo saved in a folder in Graphics as Fort Island.