Elliott

The article in The Gleaner of January 25, about Davion King, the teenager who needs emergency heart surgery brings to light several deficits within the health system and also some of what is right with it.

First, the work of Dr William Foster must be commended. His efforts have helped many and for this they are grateful. Another thing this article highlights is the fact that heart surgery is available in Jamaica. Previous articles asking for help fail to point this out and so many Jamaicans do not realise that First World-type cardiac surgery is indeed available at the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Bustamante Hospital for Children. Because of this many Jamaicans have received life-saving operations while we have also seen the effects of patients not knowing and hence presenting at death's door because they did not know that they could have had their surgery done in Jamaica.

The fact of the waiting list is a reality which has improved over time but is still a factor. It also brings to light a fact that I have written about before. For the health care in Jamaica to improve, Jamaicans have to take it into their own hands and become a part of the solution. The work of Dr Foster is like giving a hungry man food to eat. By tomorrow he is hungry again. We need contributions and inputs to be made that is likening to teaching the hungry man how to fish so that he can feed himself for life.

The system needs the input of financing, contributions and time of Jamaicans so that it is built to the point that people like this teenager can get their surgery when necessary.

The article pointed out the two operating days made available for public heart surgery. This is not because of the will of the surgeons - they would operate seven days a week if they could, but the number of operating theatres, nurses and equipment make it almost impossible.With the limited resources, however, a great deal of work has been done. Today many cardiac procedures and surgeries are being performed successfully that were not available years ago. I call for the patients to stand and share their stories, but a lot more needs to be done.

Number-one killer

Cardiovascular disease is the number-one killer of Jamaicans. To fight this, a battle plan must be made. We need the public and private sectors to become partners with the cardiology units of the hospitals and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica to make sure that equipment is available, that a fund is always available for those who are in need and not wait to have a crisis (like this case) in hand and that resources for hospital staff and patients are always available.

The reality is that the Government cannot do it all. No government can. If one looks to our North American neighbours one will see that almost every hospital depends on public contributions. Just see the name of the buildings, or rooms or even the elevators. Many were built or installed because someone, or a company donated the necessary funds or equipment. We need more of this in Jamaica.

February is Heart Month and I would like to challenge Jamaicans everywhere to use that month as a fact-finding project. There is hardly a Jamaican who has not been touched by a family member or friend who died from heart failure, heart attack or a stroke. Find out the facts related to cardiac care in Jamaica, call the cardiology unit at UHWI, the Heart Foundation, and speak to the doctors, nurses, technicians or even visit and find out the areas of need and how you can help. Let us make the cry of teenagers like this one a cry of the past.

Dr Victor Elliott is a cardiologist. Feedback may be sent to spirit2emmanuel@yahoo.ca or columns@gleanerjm.com