The Jamaican health system has been lauded internationally for its quick action in identifying, quarantining and treating the two recently arrived individuals to the island with the HINI 'swine flu' virus, as it did in the bird flu pandemic a few years ago.

The World Health Organisation has been alerted and medication is now in the island to treat the virus, should there been any other cases identified or an outbreak of a wider scale. Thumbs up for our health system in Jamaica when it comes to situations like these.

One of the greatest weaknesses with Jamaica's health system, however, is poor service offered by many of its employees. Many of them seem not to take their work or the health of individuals seriously. This is evident when, at times, one goes to a health clinic in Jamaica, let's say, to see the doctor. Before a patient goes in to speak to the doctor, the normal procedure is, patient should be weighed, blood pressure taken and, if diabetic, blood sugar measured. All this should be recorded and dated into the patient's docket.

Too often, files/dockets are just stacked, sent and placed carelessly on the doctor's desk. When the doctor calls the patient, he finds nothing in some files. At times, there is no record of the patient's last visit, as parts of the records are missing. The doctor has to call the nurse who, in turn, has to do the things that should have been done before. Many times, it is done with mumbling from the nurse that this is not her job and she is not doing someone else's work.

idling

One may argue that the person assigned could have been busy. But, too often, these same workers sit idly by gossiping with patients and other health workers and it occurs daily. They do have enough time to get these tests done as, most times, the doctor comes in the afternoon. Subsequently, the doctor is so upset that he, knowingly or unknowingly, takes it out on the patients. Patients, in turn, fear the doctor or sometimes get upset with him too.

Individuals working in health need to be held accountable. There should be some form of unobtrusive observation done. A male and female orderly's job description includes cleaning, washing, arranging rooms and equipment in the clinic, but I find it rather strange that, in some well-staffed health centres when one calls to confirm an appointment, seven out of ten times it is the orderly who answers and asks for name and docket number. Where is the clerical officer, nurse's aid or the nurse assigned? Is docket pulling and telephone answering now part of the orderly's job description in a health centre?

The other thing of grave concern is the shortage of medication in clinics. This makes nurses very aggressive. There are some individuals, especially the elderly, who the doctor asks to come in regularly, between scheduled visits, to have blood pressure or glucose test done. The nurse often gets very upset when these individuals come to the clinic. One elderly woman came to have her glucose tested at a particular clinic. When the nurse saw her and heard the reason she was there, she responded, "Weh you deh go, mi only have few strip fi use when the doctor come, so mi nuh know weh you deh go."

degrading

The lady was so embarrassed. What was said was bad enough but, the way in which it was said, was degrading. This is a senior citizen who had contributed so much to this country, one who has always treated people with decency and respect, was now been handled in such a demeaning manner in front of a clinic filled with children and adults.

There are many similar situations senior citizens face - people who have worked all their lives building Jamaica and slavishly pay their taxes. This must stop.

I am, etc.,

JULIET CHRISTIE MURRAY

monie@cwjamaica.com

Blue Hole, Sandy Bay PO

Hanover