THE EDITOR, Madam:AN increasingly common pastime for most concerned Jamaicans is to reflect on and bemoan the steady and frightening deterioration in standards taking place in this our beloved country.
This concern and, in some instances, feeling of hopelessness, is not without reason. The high level of corruption which pervades the society and the apparent increasing level of tolerance of corrupt practices; the many instances of brutal and mindless killings; the increasing prevalence of the use and trafficking of destructive mind-altering drugs, are some of the indicators of the problems we encounter on a daily basis.
Many of us, including this writer, have suffered, either directly or indirectly from the effects of this trend. However, we should not feel overwhelmed by this situation, bad as it is. Instead we need to take comfort in the fact that there continues to be numerous areas of remarkable achievement of which we should be proud.
I do not have reason to believe something which I've long suspected and that is, that the medical expertise available here is the equal of that of the developed world.
Recently, I had to seek urgent medical attention for a neurological problem. The presentation was said to be unusual and my consultant physician (Dr. Orrin Barrow) referred me to neurologist (Professor Owen Morgan) who referred me to consultant neuro-surgeon Ivor Crandon, simultaneously arranging for my admission into the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital of the West Indies. No sooner had I arrived than Mr. Crandon and his team (Drs. Dwight Webster, Roger Hunter and Philip Barrow) began their investigations and soon determined the nature of my illness - all this within hours of my first seeing a doctor.
I was advised that my condition required surgical intervention with the least possible delay. My perception of neuro-surgery led me to conjure up notions of a craniotomy carried out with an array of terrifying instruments straight out of the devil's kitchen. My fears were soon allayed by Mr. Crandon's detailed description of the procedure that was space-age stuff, and, without so much as removing a single hair from my head, beard or moustache, the problem was dealt with micro-surgically. At both the pre and post-operative stages, the medical care offered by the nursing staff was sensitive and comforting.
My post-operative medical care has been equally impressive and is being carried out by consultant endocrinologist, Dr. Boyne, who goes to great pains to explain in considerable detail what to expect, and the available methods of treatment.
In conclusion, it is worthy of mention that concerned friends and relatives here in Jamaica as well as those calling from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy were surprised and largely impressed by the fact that micro surgery demanding that level of technical expertise, was routinely carried out in Jamaica.
Take heart Jamaica, all is not lost!
VICTOR RHONE
14 Trenton Avenue,
Kingston 8.
