DISA Martin was set on becoming a Medex, and she worked tirelessly towards achieving that goal, not letting hurdles daunt her.

Looking at her own mother, a skilled midwife, who has been helping people around the clock, she felt there was a need to follow in her footsteps.

The 24-year-old told the Guyana Chronicle that four years ago, she decided she would apply to become a Medex via the Ministry of Health and she was successful.

The journey described by Martin was a long one punctuated with hurdles, heartaches, and challenges that were beyond her control. Nevertheless, she knew she had to finish what she had started, and she pushed through until she completed the programme.

Martin is from Paramakatoi Village, Region Eight, a very remote place which sits on top of a mountain in a nature setting that is unlike any other.

Even though she is not the first Medex in her village, she is the first in her family and her achievement was met with loud praises and applause upon her return home.

Martin, a very soft-spoken person said Paramakatoi Village has about 3,000 locals, mostly from the Patamona tribe with two catchment areas: Bamboo Creek and Bashville.

The main economic activities are farming and mining, and the village has a primary, a nursery and a secondary school, a health centre, with the main district hospital at Mahdia and several churches. A police station is presently being constructed in the village.

Martin is the eldest of two children for her parents. Her mother, Donette Martin, was a Community Health Worker who later became a midwife. She is currently attached to the Paramakatoi Health Centre.

Growing up, her mother was always opening their home to people. Martin said it was that kindness portrayed by her mother that inspired her to take up a profession in the healthcare sector. Like her mother, she wanted to help others.

She added that leaving home was the hardest part of her journey. In order to pursue her dreams, she had to relocate to an unfamiliar place where she remained for four years. There she became part of a new family. She and her 29 batchmates had the same dream of becoming a Medex. Like her, many of them were from remote parts of the country.

Martin told this publication that she is temporarily stationed at the Campbelltown Health Centre and will relocate to Chenapou Health Centre once her housing arrangements have been finalised. She also assists at the Mahdia Hospital when called upon.

The new Medex told the Guyana Chronicle that although the Medex programme was a long hard journey, it was worth it.

She recalled how she missed her home and family during the early days of the programme but as time passed, she got used to the distance. Her three roommates were supportive.

Martin stayed at the West Demerara Regional Hospital dormitory and had to commute to the city five days per week for classes.

She disclosed that the Medex programme had three areas: nursing, midwifery and the Medex aspect. For her, it was an intense programme with lots of hands-on training.

“I would like to acknowledge God firstly and my number one supporters, my parents …my sister, the coordinators of the Medex programme, Medex Sarah Peana, Sister Margo Prescott (deceased), colleagues, relatives and others, who all played a part in my success,” she said.

Martin emphasised that those who face struggles during their educational journey should keep going and never quit.

She related that she speaks her tribe’s dialect fluently and is able to communicate with locals, ensuring that they receive proper and timely medical care