DOCTOR Marcia Evelyn is the resident doctor at the Leguan Cottage Hospital. She is right at home to serve the community through good relations with the people and she has become a household name on the island.
She had worked at the Wakenaam Hospital as the resident doctor for six years before she started at the Leguan Cottage Hospital in February this year.
Even though her first career choice was to become a paediatrician for the love of helping sick children, after she had a daughter, she had to contend with being a general practitioner.
“When my daughter grows a bit older, I will become specialised and follow my dream of becoming a paediatrician. But for now, I am still loving my job. Helping people is what I do best and I do what is necessary to promote good health on the island,” she said.
Dr Evelyn recalled clearly her first day working on the island was on Valentine’s Day and she was pleased to become a part of the community, since the people were so welcoming.
The people were quickly drawn to her because of her personality, expertise and she is welcomed at any home on the island.
Dr Evelyn resides in the upper flat of the Leguan Health Centre with her husband and daughter and is on call 24 hours.
The Leguan Cottage Hospital is in the same compound as the Leguan Health Centre and they have enough space to accommodate different sections of the hospital, which also has a mortuary.
She disclosed that they would usually see some seasonal illnesses, chronic disease patients, and the most severe cases are road accidents patients.
Dr Evelyn added that it is a norm for some people to imbibe and ride their motorcycles on the island. As such, they are involved in road accidents and would seek medical attention for injuries received.
The Leguan Cottage Hospital is a tidy place with a doctor’s room, triage area, pharmacy, records section, laundry room and waiting area.
It provides primary health care and has specific days for four separate clinics. About 50 patients would pass through for medical services per week.
The laboratory technician visits weekly, and the Leguan Cottage Hospital also has several wards to house patients and has 21 employees.
Leguan Cottage Hospital also has a dentist who heads that department.
Dr Evelyn hails from Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, but her mother is from Hogg Island and her father is from Wakenaam Island, so she is familiar with life on an island in the Essequibo River.
“I was inspired to become a doctor because I love taking care of people, mostly children and the elderly, and thought, why not get qualified to do what I love, so here I am as a doctor,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nurse Mark Seeram, who was attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) for 10 years, is back home to serve his community at the Leguan Cottage Hospital.
He returned to his home village two years ago and couldn’t be happier.
“The best part about living here [is] you don’t have to spend a lot of money like elsewhere, because we plant and have our own livestock, cattle and things are within reach,” he said.
Seeram added that life in Leguan Island is not so fast-paced as in the city. He is a local, so he is accustomed to the quiet life where there is hardly any drama and stress.
He is one of the nicest frontline workers, who wears a smile and is a professional, always ready to serve the people.
Leguan RDC
The Leguan Regional Democratic Council (RDC) representative is Sheik Ayube, who describes life on the island as good and the place happy.
He told the Pepperpot Magazine that things are good, except the heavy rainfall which disturbed the rice crops, cattle and livestock-rearing and the farmers.
Ayube added that they have upgraded roads and internal streets, a reliable electricity supply and potable water.
“Here, you can sleep with your doors opened, and nothing will go missing, or no one will come uninvited,” he said.
Ayube stated that he is originally from Leguan Island, but worked at Guymine for many years in Linden and also lived in Kitty, Georgetown.
He returned to Leguan 40 years ago and has a lovely home because he is drawn to the quiet life.
Ayube related that the island has produced a lot of good people and pointed out that former parliamentarian Winston Murray, who was interred in the yard of the 1827-built St Peter’s Anglican Church is from the island.
He noted that the RDC has 15 labourers, one cleaner, two guest houses and a total of 24 employees, all from the island.
Ayube stated that under the Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CIIP), they have in their employ 23 workers, who are responsible for the maintenance of drains, canals, parapets, and koker the outfall on the island.
Meanwhile, Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Vice Chairman Jainarine Singh told the Pepperpot Magazine that they need a mini excavator on the island to reduce flooding, since there is overtopping.
He related that it would bring much-needed relief to farmers on the island.
