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I am half way through my time in Jamaica. It has definitely been an interesting experience. Mondays and Tuesdays are spent in the ED at Port Maria. There is a huge problem with space so the three of us have to share a single room. Wednesday mornings are ward rounds at Annotto Bay (if they have patients) followed by helping out in the ED. Thursdays are clinic at Annotto Bay and either consist of well checks or follow ups. Fridays are spent either at clinic or the ED in Port Antonio, the hospital with a view! Overall the hospital staff are gratful we are here and therefore are helpful and welcoming. Basic URIs , or “cold in the head Miss”, are very common. They have some very interesting cough syrups over here that the parents expect you to prescribe. They consist of a variety of ingredients including salbutamol or terbutaline, codeine, bromhexine, guaiphenesin, and menthol. My favorite one is called “Dawakof”, or “do away cough.” Along with the basic URIs, I’ve seen a lot of poorly-controlled asthma, tinea capitis, and scabies. Thankfully Ventolin inhalers are free from the hospital pharmacy and they even have an ICS! Unfortunately nebulizers are few and far between though making acute management of asthma in the ED a difficult situation. It also makes discharging a 2 or 3 year old home with an inhaler a less than ideal situation, especially when you have to just hope that the parent will spend the money on a spacer as these are not provided by the hospital pharmacy. I have possibly made some new diagnoses of sickle cell disease, although I may never know for sure. Newborn screen must not happen in Jamaica (I have yet to find out) but I have seen young children who appear to be in vaso-occlusive crisis with no diagnosis of SCD. My only clue is a Hb/Hct in the range of 7/22 with pending results for a “sickle cell screen” but no Hb electrophoresis.  Jamaica is in the midst of a hospital outbreak with Klebsiella and Serratia which has resulted in the death of 18 infants and many more infected. This seems to have resulted in multiple hospital inspections by the Health Department and results have been released but I have yet to read them. Hand sanitizer is hard to come by. Ear tips are washed and reused. The examination table sheet is only changed if absolutely necessary (I’m pretty sure this one would make the Health Department list of no-no’s. Available medications at the hospital pharmacy consist of a list that fits on two notecards. The wards are open air (and hot!) but thankfully the EDs and most of the clinics are air conditioned. Doctors do all of their own phlebotomy and IV cannulas, without EMLA or the papoose method, which makes for a very combative child. In contrast to this, accommodation at Couples Resort is lovely and comfortable. I’ve spent my weekends diving and relaxing on the beach, and trying to get used to being called “My Lady.” The hotel staff are lovely and the food is great. I actually feel guilty coming home to this after spending my days amongst patients who clearly have very little. Diane has been in town with some of her team and it’s been great to learn about the Issa Trust Foundation and everything that they have accomplished. I’m looking forward to seeing what my next two weeks consist of!

As my time in Jamaica comes to an end, I just want to thank all of the wonderful people I met throughout the month that have made this one of the best experiences of my life! I have learned so much over the past month and have grown as a person and clinician. For this being my first medical mission trip, it was pretty epic! Initially when I decided to do this, I was super nervous because I had never traveled alone before. When I told people I was going to Jamaica, everyone was worried about my safety. I can honestly say that I never once felt in danger. From the friendly staff at Couples Tower Isle to all the doctors, nurses, and drivers I met at the various hospitals, I always felt supported and secure.

Now to get to the good stuff…! When we  drove up to the first hospital, Port Maria Hospital, I honestly thought “This can not be a hospital”. Coming from the nice, shiny, tall, air conditioned hospitals in America, I was pretty shocked. I’m sure my face said it all while walking through the hospital and seeing the clinic room we would be working in. Port Maria Hospital was probably the least equipped hospital, but ended up being my favorite! The people there were amazing and so helpful!

We went to two other hospitals throughout the month: Annotto Bay and Port Antonio. We saw a variety of cases but still lots of gen peds cases like viral URIs and asthma. There was several things I had to get used to. The formulary and medications used in Jamaica was different than what I typically use in the US. I learned the many different brand names of Acetominophen like Panadol, Cetamol, and Paracetamol. In the hospitals I worked at, the doctors had to draw all the labs and start IVs on the patients. In the hospital I train at, the nurses do all the lab draws and IVs, so it was great practice for me!

I also had to get used to working with the limited resources available. I saw a patient that had paronychia, which is an infection around the nail bed. He had an infection in his toe that required an incision and drainage to get the pus out so his toe could start healing. The treatment room at the hospital was not nearly as well equipped as one would be in the US, but somehow the docs always found a way to treat the patients!

The patois that the Jamaican people speak was sometimes hard to understand! I had to fix my face sometimes because I could feel myself looking quizzical! And I’m sure parents got tired of having to repeat themselves multiple times because I just couldn’t understand what they were saying. Overall, the parents were really understanding and patient with me as I tried to talk with them and learn the system! The patients were great, and so adorable! I really appreciated how grateful the parents and patients were.

It wasn’t all work though! The resort was fabulous! We got to do any of the water sports, from sailing, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and going on the catamaran cruise. There were a few days that the driver didn’t pick us up, for whatever reason, so we enjoyed a random day off lounging at the beach! 

Overall, it has been the best clinical experience of my young, professional life! I learned so much about myself and how I want to practice medicine in the future. I gained so much more than I gave, and for that, I am forever grateful to the people of Jamaica and the ISSA Trust foundation for allowing me to have this opportunity. 

I did leave with a souvenir! I fractured by toe about halfway through the month and the docs at Annotto Bay Hospital took great care of me and fixed me right up!

 

From the Jamaica Gleaner | January 21, 2016 | Gladstone Taylor

The Issa Trust Foundation (ITF) handed over US$2million worth of pharmaceutical supplies recently during a ceremony held at the Henry Shaw Auditorium at the Kingston Public Hospital.

Among the items were IV fluids, antibiotics, medicine for non-communicable deseases, gloves gowns, and other items to assist in the quality of care provided.

Established in 2005 by Couples Resorts, the ITF focuses on health prevention, promotion, and education, as well as on the improvement of medical services in Jamaica.

The ITF continues its partnership, donating pharmaceuticals on a quarterly basis via air freight to minimise delays in delivery of critical medications.

The foundation also works to reduce infant mortality by improving the capacity of the public-health infrastructure to care for premature, low-weight, and very sick infants.

Green Island Primary School

School Motto: Strive for Excellence
Green Island Primary School was built in 1920. The school is located in Hanover Jamaica. Present enrollment: 283 girls and 301 boys ages 6 to 12 years old.

The staff consists of the Principal, (Mr. Vaccianna Moseley) the Vice Principal, Guidance Counselor, Spanish Teacher, 16 classroom teachers, and a part time Physical Education teacher.

Extra Curricular Activities:
Clubs: 4H, Brownies, Sports, Math, Spanish, Speech, Empowerment, Scouts Club, Performing Arts, Reading and Spelling

Vision:
To create meaningful and unified learning experiences in an environment which is conducive to academic and personal growth and development of staff, pupils, parents and all other stake holders.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Green island Primary School is to establish and maintain an effective Educational Program that will ensure the HOLISTIC development of each individual.

November 18, 2015

Dear Board,

This has been a very busy year! Please see the latest press releases for your review.

November 13, 2015 – Issa Trust Foundation Gives Life-Saving Equipment To Hospitals

November 11, 2015 – Support The Health Care System! Lady Hall Urges Corporate Jamaica To Hop On Board

November 10, 2015 – Sav Hospital Gets Paediatric Gifts

October 13, 2015 – IssaTrust Foundation On A Mission

August 31, 2015 – Issa Trust Foundation Hosts Medical Clinics

Diane Pollard, President & CEO
Issa Trust Foundation
cell: 515-480-1683
Jamaica cell (when in country) 876-503-5903