C.E.O.'s CORNER

I am reminded of the words in the song “April showers bring May flowers”. One of the many beautiful things about Guyana is that we don’t have to wait until May as flowers and trees and bushes bloom and produce fruit all year round. As I look out my office window I see a rainbow of color. It brightens my day every day.

Just as the economy has been negatively affected all over the world we are suffering acutely here in Guyana, especially the poor. Since the 16% VAT was introduced in January 2007 prices of food, fuel, goods and supplies have skyrocketed. Foreign businesses are considering pulling out, tourism is down and unemployment and low wages prevail. I look at the housing problem in the US and the fuel/feed problems world wide and see how seriously it impacts on Guyana where a very high percentage of income comes from families living abroad. People can no longer afford to see a doctor and wait until diseases and illnesses are out of control. It is not a pretty picture as many of you well know. I hope soon we see some light at the end of this tunnel.

One can imagine the impact all these economic issues have on patients with chronic illnesses, single parents with sick children and the elderly. They live from day to day and the numbers of homeless and beggars on the street have increased markedly.

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

We do have a happy story to tell about two former patients with Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) from Mahaica. They were living in a 9’X9’ shack with a two year old and 4 month old. Food for the Poor built them a home in one day with 2 bedrooms and a combined kitchen and living room. It is 3 feet off the ground so should be safe from flooding. They still have no plumbing or electricity but that will come in time as the area around them builds up. They continue to use the little outhouse they built in the back and get water from the ditch and collect rain water. We visit to help outfit the house and the two of them grin all the time. They have a new lease on life.

We have finished renovating the North Wing and hopefully next week we will be relocating patients. It will be a big job so we have established a Committee to assure a smooth transition. Our next project is to complete phase 3 in the School of Nursing, that is, raise the flooring in two classrooms and two offices to address the flooding situation. We will also put a more permanent but moveable divider between the two classrooms.
Another endeavor is to give the Maintenance department more space. For years we have been hacking away at the storage and work space so they only have one little crowded room which is in constant chaos due to lack of space. We will build on to the end of their building in an effort to alleviate the problem.

Contrary to much of the world we are enjoying sunshine and a gentle ocean breeze. The rains fall heavily for short period of time and in two hours the ground is dry again. We are blessed in that way and we are grateful. God is good.

Sheila Walsh, RSM,
Chief Executive Officer
08-May-2008

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