C.E.O.'s CORNER

I  just discovered I did not write a CEO’s Corner for February. I think we need to chalk it up to early old age. It was a busy month. We selected the Employee of the Year for 2007 and honored her (Audrey from Lab) and all the Employees for the Quarters for 2007. It was a lovely celebration.

On February 11^th I left for Argentina for a meeting of the Sisters of Mercy from the 8 countries where mercy’s minister and are connected to the US. Representatives were there from Argentina, Belize, Chile, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama and Peru. It was a stimulating meeting and a wonderful experience of our multicultural richness among the sisters of mercy. We are in the process of forming CCASA Caribbean, Central America, South America which will be one of the 7 Regions of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. These are exciting times. On the way back I stopped to spend 5 days with my Sister and Brother in law in Florida. It was delightful, restful and an opportunity to visit my favorite stores, Home Depot, Dollar Tree and Flee markets.

 Last month we were blessed with two cardiologists, (  pediatric and adult), and an Echo technician (with an Echo machine). They consulted and treated a large number of patients including a number from the Former First Lady’s Kid’s First Program. Echos were done a number of children and adults. It was a tremendous benefit to the Guyanese people.

Sr. Sheila Walsh, RSM, Chief Executive Officer

This month Dr. Karen and her Pediatric Residents from Johns Hopkins University Medical Center will be returning to work with our orphanages and then travel to the Pomeroons where last year they saw and treated over 1000 children. They will be returning to those same villages to see new patients and follow up on children seen and treated last year. This year they will be conducting a health fair at Mercy Wings Vocational Center in the Sophia squatting area. The children of Guyana greatly benefit from their visits..

At the end of this month the Medical Team from the RAM program will be returning to us. Perhaps you saw the spot they did on 60 Minutes recently about the work of the RAM program in Knoxville, TN. Well they come to Guyana three times a year and we work with them as they visit the Interior doing pap smears and exams on women who have little or no access to health care. Anyone who needs further procedures or surgical follow up is flown to Georgetown and the RAM doctors do the work at Mercy Hospital. Everything is free for the patient although it costs us about $10,000 to provide anesthesia, surgery, testing, accommodation, nursing care and drugs. It is a partnership we are proud to be part of.  

Guyana continues to struggle with a depressed economy, industries that are floundering, drugs, unemployment and homelessness. Often people are sick or injured and wait too long for medical help due to poverty. Every day is a challenge to find the means to reach out to assist people who are poor and in need of health care. We are in need of human and financial resources as well as equipment and supplies. When things get bleak I find small miracles happen at the right time in the right place. How can anyone not believe in miracles when they occur all around us? I believe because I know so many people who answer YES to the question “Am I my brothers (and sisters) keeper”?
 

Blessings on all of you.