A POTENTIALLY serious fire at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) maternity unit was brought under control after a doctor and colleague quickly extinguished flames from an electrical fan, before helping to evacuate a patient in active labour as smoke spread through the building.
The incident occurred on the night of August 29 while Dr Christopher Lakish was attending to a patient in the labour room.
Dr Lakish was alerted to the smell of smoke coming from a nearby nurses’ room. When a nurse opened the door, flames were discovered coming from the outer covering of a fan.
Recognising that the fire was still manageable, Dr Lakish retrieved a fire extinguisher and assisted by Dr Malachi Browne, extinguished the flames before they could spread. He also disconnected the fan from its electrical outlet.
As smoke began to spread, however, the situation required the immediate attention of patients and staff. Dr Lakish returned to his patient and helped evacuate her from the building.
He was subsequently instructed to prepare the patient for an emergency Caesarean section.
The incident highlighted the importance of rapid response and emergency preparedness in a hospital environment, where a fire can quickly endanger patients who may have limited mobility and require continuous medical care.
For Dr Lakish, the response was part of his professional responsibility to protect patients and colleagues during an unexpected emergency.
Born and raised in West Demerara, Region Three, Dr Lakish was inspired by his mother’s determination to provide a better future for her children. Her encouragement, he said, taught him to “dream big” and strive for his full potential.
He spent seven years studying medicine at Victoria de Girón in Havana, Cuba, before joining GPHC in December 2025. He currently serves as a rotating General Medical Officer, gaining experience in different areas of the hospital while pursuing his longer-term ambition of becoming a neurosurgeon.
“Each day I’m motivated by the challenge of learning a new skill, disease or treatment plan,” Dr Lakish said. “But at the centre, I’m motivated each day to do my part in helping even one person.”
His experience at GPHC, he said, has reinforced his understanding that healthcare extends beyond the treatment of illness.
“Being a healthcare professional isn’t only about what happens at the bedside. It’s also about taking responsibility and looking out for the people around you,” he said.
Outside of medicine, Dr Lakish spends time with his wife and family and enjoys drawing, reading, anime and going to the gym. He also hopes to one day create his own manga or comic book.
The August 29 incident has become one of the moments he is most proud of since joining GPHC, not simply because the fire was extinguished, but because the response involved protecting a patient at a critical moment.
The episode also underscored the importance of teamwork among healthcare workers, particularly during emergencies when the safety of patients and staff depends on swift and coordinated action.
Dr Lakish said he hopes to continue developing as a doctor who is dependable, compassionate and prepared to take responsibility when circumstances demand it.
His actions, together with those of Dr Browne and the maternity team, demonstrated how preparedness, teamwork and decisive action can help protect patients and limit the impact of an emergency inside a healthcare facility.