By Shaniya Harding

Seventy-year-old Vidya Sanichar has called Patentia her home since she was married in 1975 so she has seen the village transform from a thickly forested area to what it is now. “From the time I first came here, this place has changed. It was all forest. And we had a lot more small houses,” Vidya says. Her 30-year-old daughter, Ranuka, was born and grew up in the village. Their beautiful home has stood on the same land for more than 50 years.

The family openly shared their struggles over the years, especially their battles with health. Ranuka has had her fair share of health issues, including brushes with cancer and sickle cell. Today she pays keen attention to her health. But it is clear that just as much attention is paid to her mother, who has many health problems as well. And as Ranuka states, caring for both of them is neither cheap nor easy. “I was a dental technician. And because I am not able to be on my feet 24\7, I stopped, and I started my own business. And I have to maintain her and it is not easy,” Ranuka shared.

However, the family is still finding it well and says that the only thing they would like to see is the addition of a health facility in Patentia. This is a shared thought among many villagers, particularly the elderly.

A changing demographic
A large part of Patentia’s population is made up of elderly people. This is further emphasised by the fact that not many more new or young people are moving into the area. “Almost everybody has lived here for a long time. Everybody has grown up since childhood and lives here now. And as everybody grows older, they start a family and they stay. And that’s how it is from generation to generation because even the house we live in was my grandparents’ house,” Ranuka said. As much as this preserves the history of Patentia, it creates a new problem. With the average age of the Patentia’s residents changing, so are their needs.

One of those needs is healthcare. With concern, Ranuka stated, “There are a lot of old people here. The majority of people that live here are elders. Every time they need to go to the clinic, it’s hard. If we had a health centre in the district it would be easier for everyone.” There is a health centre in Patentia but it is only accessible to persons who worked at the sugar estate. Due to this, many citizens are calling for a public health centre and dispensary.

This is posing a significant problem for many of the village’s elderly population. And as Vidya emphasised, there are those surviving on their pension, and would appreciate it deeply. “You have to pay to go to the health centres and then you have to pay for blood tests. So what happens is that the little money they, the elderly, get they have to spend it back on their healthcare. So if there was a health centre, it would benefit all the old people.” The bounds of Patentia are very blurred as the village is surrounded by a few emerging houses, families and very soon entire communities. The town of Patentia is an incredibly beautiful place with amazing people. And because of its peacefulness, it is a neighbourhood adored by its older inhabitants.