C.E.O.'s CORNER

The month of March was a month of celebration with five Holidays in a row. On the 20^th we had You-Man-Nabi, a Muslim Holyday, on the 21^st was Good Friday (not quite a celebration), and on Saturday we celebrated Phagwah, a Hindu feast. Then we had Easter Sunday and, of course, Easter Monday was kite flying day where all the "kids" young and old fly kites all over Guyana, every park, cricket field, the sea wall and any open field. It is a site to behold with hundreds of colorful kites in the sky. There are contests and prizes and lots of family picnics. We have a wonderful view from the front porch of the convent.

These days we are taking advantage of the great weather to do many roof repairs on the Colonna Building, hospital houses and parts of the main hospital. Between rust on the zinc and termites and wood ants in the wood it is a constant battle. Hopefully we will win this battle. I'm not sure of the war.

We are caring for a beautiful little girl these days. Her name is Jacinta and she is 4 years old. She comes from the village of Shea (pronounced she-a) deep in Region 9. About a year ago she stopped walking and talking and recently the visiting father of one of the Peace Corp workers who is a neurologist diagnosed her as having a brain stem tumor. The RAM pilot flew her into Georgetown and our neurosurgeon did a shunt on her as a temporary measure. She is beginning to talk again and physio is working with her to walk again. She is a bright little girl who loves to color and play "This little Piggie went to Market" with the staff. RAM, our neurosurgeon and Mercy Hospital are in the process of arranging for her to go to a hospital in the US for the removal of the tumor. In the meantime she will go back home for a few months. We will keep you updated on Jacinta's progress.

Sr. Sheila Walsh, *RSM*, *Chief Executive Officer*

The RAM Team is here and doing gynecology procedures on women diagnosed during their visit last November. Part of the Team left for the Pakarima Mountains on Saturday to do exams and pap smears on women in that Region as well as Region 9. I constantly marvel at the generosity of people who so willingly share their time and talent.

Tuberculosis is rapidly becoming a serious problem in Guyana with new strains that are resistant to drugs available. The Ministry of Health and various Organizations are working together to eradicate this disease once and for all. It is especially traumatic in Guyana where many people have low resistance due to the large number of households with HIV positive persons. Mercy Hospital's Stemming the Tide Program is working diligently with our clients to prevent and curtail the spread of TB.

This is a little commercial... we are seeking a few neurosurgeons to fill in the gaps in Guyana from July to December 2008 while our one and only Neurosurgeon is away having been awarded a 6 month Fellowship from the Canadian and American Neurosurgical Society. It is a great opportunity for him and a great investment for Guyana. We will be glad to have you for a week, two weeks, a month or more. You may see things you have not seen in you own practice and we are nice people who would welcome you warmly. Think about it.

As Spring arrives in many parts of the world it is a reminder to all of us to bloom where we are planted for opportunity is there to do God's work. Blessings on all of you.

Sr. Sheila Walsh, RSM,
Chief Executive Officer
01-April-2008

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