The quiet resilience of one medical professional

DR Nyamekeye Griffith had big dreams, aspirations, and visions of a bright future ahead as a young lady, but fate had other plans, some of which motivated her to stand her ground to overcome and become all she wanted to be and even more.

Her silent resilience and faith kept her motivated even when she felt like giving up. The people she was surrounded by made her feel she was more than enough to pull through and had a second lease on life, even near death.

Dr Griffith is a mild-mannered, soft-spoken young lady whose quiet resolve is one of her strongest qualities and has defined her personality.

It is quite evident she likes what she does for work; the passion in her voice is unmistakably colourful, and she is a very dedicated public servant whose ultimate goal is to make people feel good from the inside out.

Dr Griffith always had to fight for whatever she wanted, even for life when her health deteriorated rapidly due to end-stage renal failure, and that has shaped her into a compassionate person.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that her own father often likes to retell a story: when she was in nursery school, she announced that one day she wanted to become a doctor.

Although she doesn’t recall saying it, that seed clearly planted itself and refused to let go.

Today, she is a Government Medical Officer (GMO) and the doctor attached to the Adolescent Health Unit at the Ministry of Health (MoH).

At The Bishop’s High School, she fell in love with the arts—debating, elocution, impromptu speaking, dance, drama, and playing the steelpan.

She got to represent her school in competitions, which taught her to think on her feet and speak from her heart. She graduated from Bishop’s High in 2011.

Around that same time, when she was 16, she started working as a work-study student at the Ministry of Health.

That’s where she was introduced to peer education through the Adolescent Health Programme. She learnt how to talk to young people about sexual and reproductive health, the dangers of substance use, and the importance of mental health—in ways that were actually fun and engaging. She has been volunteering ever since.

The first time she really noticed she had a natural knack for science communication was when she and her project partner won first prize in the biology category at the National Schools’ Science Fair in 2010.

Dr Griffith also won the Best Speaker prize. That was the moment she realised she had a real gift for delivering health information and advocating—blending the arts and sciences without even trying.

“I have to give credit to my CSEC Biology teacher at the time, who saw something in me and helped me hone that skill with creativity and rigour,” she said.

From The Bishop’s High, Dr Griffith moved on to Queen’s College to do her Associate Degree in Natural Science as her entry into medical school.

Then came the University of Guyana (UG) School of Medicine, where she graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS).

“I had imagined a long clinical career. I dreamt of becoming an OBGYN. But we make plans, and God laughs. In my third year of medical school, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. I fought that battle quietly, determined to finish, with my family and close friends holding me up,” she admitted.

Dr Griffith added that she somehow made it through; she graduated and started her internship.

Then the pandemic arrived. By that time, her chronic kidney disease had progressed to end-stage renal disease, and she needed dialysis three times a week to stay alive.

As frightening as that time was, it also showed her how deeply loved she was.

Her cousin—who is truly more like her little sister—gave her the gift of life by donating one of her kidneys to her.

That relative gave her a second chance to live her dreams and fulfil her purpose, with the expertise of her medical colleagues and professors, who became her doctors and, by extension, part of her support system as well.

That second chance changed Dr Griffith’s trajectory, and she stepped away from clinical medicine to pursue public health instead.

Now, she had to blend her love for the arts with her love for science even more fully.

She earned her MBA in Healthcare Management from Jain University and is currently completing her MSc in Public Health at the University of Suffolk, London.

“In my role at the Ministry of Health, I use my ability to interpret data and tell stories at the same time. I design engaging projects and support systems that help empower young people through health education. I help them understand complex things in simple, human ways so they can make better decisions for their own lives. That’s not a future dream—it’s what I do every day,” she said.

Dr Griffith told the Pepperpot Magazine that none of this would have been possible without her village.

Her parents, aunties, cousins, friends—they have been the constant, quiet encouragement behind every step she has taken.

Especially her mother, who always helped her find the bright side of even the hardest situations.

Dr Griffith is an amalgamation of all the love and investment poured into her over the years, and she sees health through two lenses: the clinician and the patient.

She is a member of Guyana’s healthcare system and a beneficiary, and feels it is her personal and professional duty to help as many people as possible have a positive experience like hers.

“I hope my story reminds others that even when life takes unexpected turns, you can still find purpose, joy, and a way to be of help,” she said.