A Good Intent nurse shares the concerns of her community

TRULY dedicating oneself to anything requires effort, perseverance and immeasurable amounts of self-discipline. But nursing requires an extra touch of caring and love for others.
Amanda Ramsey was born and raised in Good Intent, West Bank Demerara, and is now giving back to her community in one of the most incredible ways: As a nurse. The 38-year-old has been a part of the Good Intent Health Centre for over ten years. In that time, she has gone the extra mile to treat her patients, and getting to know the people who bring their woes to her. Today, Nurse Ramsey, along with her team at the Good Intent Health Centre, strives to go beyond the bounds of the clinic. They aim to ensure the health and well-being of their community.

Amanda was raised in the village of Good Intent. A quick stroll through the village today would expose you to the unique and enchanting atmosphere that characterises the village. With neighbours who interact like family, and strangers who treat you like old friends, Good Intent brings what it means to be a community to the forefront through its people. According to Amanda, this way of life and sense of community was always something that Good Intent encapsulated, and what made the village feel at home to her.

“Back then, it was good,” Amanda shares. She and her siblings’ childhood in Good Intent was marked by playing through the back streets, swimming, and climbing the ever-elusive mango trees of their neighbours. With its lively, cheerful, warm and welcoming nature, it would seem as though Good Intent was always a village that stood on a strong sense of community, and a simplistic way of life. “Everybody was one, and lived as one. We would go into each other’s yard and pick fruits,” Amanda said.

“They were some good days in Good Intent,” Amanda said. As the eldest of five children, Amanda was tasked with caring for her siblings early in her life. This, however, took nothing away from her childhood. Amanda’s experiences enriched her appreciation for family, and emphasised the moments she spent with them. “Growing up as the eldest sister was a bit challenging,” she shared. Amanda and her siblings were brought up by their aunt and grandmother. She said, “We grew up with my grandmother and my great-aunt; not my mother. My mother used to live on the East Bank. I had to take care of the small ones, but it was still good.”

Although nursing is, undoubtedly, her passion today, Amanda admits that healthcare was not her original ambition. Amanda was thrown into the nursing field after some pushing and intervention from her brother. Today, she considers it one of the best decisions she has ever made. “My brother put in the application form for me; nursing was not my heart’s desire. But now that I am doing it, I love it.” Amanda shared.

Guyana boasts friendly people who have cultivated a culture of familiarity with their hospitable nature. In the little village of Good Intent, this culture is emphasised. Amanda and her clinic are in charge of the health of more than a thousand people across various communities. She, however, has still managed to form bonds with her patients, making them feel more like people rather than the illness assigned to them. “I love nursing,” Amanda said. “I like taking care of my patients. I like talking to them; sometimes I give them advice.”

Looking back at the village’s medical aspect, Amanda shared concerns echoed by Guyanese healthcare workers countrywide. The rise of chronic diseases is something that has garnered attention on a national scale with programmes set out to combat hypertension and diabetes. This health trend can be felt on a much smaller scale as well. As Amanda shared, “Most of the cases we see are either high blood pressure or diabetes.” She further stated that plenty has to be changed to combat the growing issue. Drastic adjustments to our diets, and adapting new eating habits are just a few things on the list of measures that should be taken.

“Most times, we do not eat right, and that contributes mostly to the problem.” Amanda, who has had her personal experiences with hypertension, says that diet and exercise are consistently a part of her life. “I try to eat the right foods, take on less stress, and exercise,” she said. She urges the patients at her clinic to place emphasis on their health. Taking the steps towards acknowledging one’s health issues is key. Heeding the advice of a neighbourhood nurse, doctor or ‘medic’ could go a long way in ensuring someone’s health.