Big Up to Gayle Health Centre!
Ok. Me again. Never short of drama. On Monday morning a big, old rusty nail “jook” mi inna mi foot bottom. (For non-Jamaicans I mean that a nail pierced my foot bottom).
So I did the traditional treatment – green banana crushed with kerosene oil – heated as much as I could take it and slapped unto the wound.
Some residents urged me to visit the doctor for a tetanus shot because I might end up with “lock jaw”.
Well……my mother made an appointment with her Burmese doctor which would require three thousand dollars just for seeing his smiling face.
I turned down the appointment and decided to visit the health clinic.
Great service I must say! Very professional minded receptionists.
The place was wery clean and airy. Fair enough there were about forty babies because it was Thursday and naturally they take priority.
However I got through in three hours flat. Everything free, including the amoxillyn I am instructed to take for seven days.
Okay. Go back to earlier this year when I took my father (RIP) to his private doctor in Ocho Rios. A room full of patients waited for two hours because the doctor had not yet arrived from St Ann’s Bay Hospital.
The room was hot and cramped and the whole experience lasted longer than five hours.
In similar vein, the average waiting time in Accident and Emergency units in London hospital is six hours.
My point after such rambling is that some of us Jamaicans are quick to criticise our public services and create division amongst ourselves according to status and ability to pay for something.
My point also is: why the hell should I pay a private doctor who most likely will be taking my money from Jamaica to another country when I can get quality services free of charge?
I do hope however that the national health service allows citizens to make donations or those who are able and willing to pay are allowed to do so. So big up Gayle Health Centre. Bless
By Neo Makeba
Download The Jamaican Blogs™ App for your Android device: HERE
Remember to share this article on Facebook and other Social Media Platforms. To submit your own articles or to advertise with us please send us an EMAIL at: [email protected]