Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 06, 2021 News
By Sharmain Grainger
Kaieteur News – With the infection and death rates steadily rising, it is evident that more than a year later COVID-19 continues to be one of the most challenging public health crises that the world has ever seen. But there can be no letting up of the recommended measures needed to prevent this disease from wiping out the entire human race.
Proving to be especially resilient in the face of this daunting threat are those who provide crucial services within our health care system. The public health sector in particular has been pushed to its limits as more and more persons become infected to the point of hospitalisation. At the time of writing this article, based on data from the Ministry of Health, there are more than 17,000 recorded infections and 403 deaths.
While some have been doing their part to protect themselves, there are others who have simply chosen to be indifferent. This, undoubtedly, serves to make the work of those in the health care system that much harder.
But these meagrely compensated heroes in the health care system understand all too well the important role they play, so even though they may see some persons flouting the COVID-19 guidelines, they are too committed to the fight to about turn.
Among those on the frontline soldiering on is Mohamed Allie. Allie is the supervisor of porters at the Suddie Public Hospital on the Essequibo Coast and, according to him, often he and his team are the first to encounter patients who come to the hospital.
In this time of COVID, Allie said that in addition to transporting patients to the hospital’s isolation and quarantine areas, ensuring oxygen and other items are delivered where needed, his team provides sanitation services and assist in the transfer of patients to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Although his job is non-medical, Allie noted that he, and those under his purview, must daily strive to meticulously complete whatever tasks they are given. A slip in judgment, he explained, could impact the entire system.
INGRAINED PASSION
With a passion for helping others ingrained in his psyche, it comes naturally to Allie to lead from the front. “I love helping people and COVID was not an excuse for me to stop helping people and I want to continue to help people even though I know being around COVID patients is risky,” said Allie during an interview with this publication.
Like the other members of his team, Allie ensures that he is fully garbed with protective equipment, including gown, N95 face mask, shoe cover, shield or sometimes goggles, before taking on any task. “COVID has caused a 100 percent change in how we carry ourselves,” said Allie, who takes hygienic measures quite seriously since at the end of the day he has to go home to his wife and children. He candidly emphasised, “I have to protect myself and them.”
Allie has been employed at the Suddie Hospital for more than a decade. But before that, he was a Staff Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force.
You see since he was a young boy, he wanted to be involved in activities to help others and what better way, he thought, than to defend an entire nation against its enemies, should the need arise.
FORMATIVE YEARS
Born Mohamed Raymond Allie on January 17, 1980 to Ishak Allie and his wife, Wendy, he is older brother to Walema Allie. The Johanna Cecelia, Essequibo Coast resident spoke of attending the Maria’s Lodge Nursery School, the Suddie Primary and the Anna Regina Secondary, before he headed off to join the army.
A committed rank, Allie excelled in whatever he was tasked with doing. But then true love beckoned and Allie, a devoted Muslim, decided that it was time to part ways with the army in order to start a family of his own. His union with his wife, Tevian, has thus far yielded four children – Usamah, 13, Sasiyah, 10, Asridi, 9, and Afiyah, 5.
Allie said that after leaving the army he decided to apply to the Suddie Hospital for a job and about two months later he was employed there and never looked back. Training for his new portfolio entailed weeks of intense training and he was even exposed to an emergency first responder training programme.
HARDWORKING ‘SOLDIERS’
Happy to be a part of a hardworking team today, he said, “We are like the ‘soldiers’ of the institution” who complement the work done by other non-medical staffers as well as the medical staffers. Recognising that the efforts of many non-medical staffers, such as porters, often go unnoticed, Allie said, “to all the porters of all the institutions, give yourselves a pat on the back for a job well done. I know for sure we are at risk when handling COVID patients but we all have to remember to use our PPE so that we can continue to protect ourselves, families and others.”
Allie, who has since augmented his protection by being fully vaccinated, said that although he has seen quite a few infected patients, he is not worried about being infected since he adheres to all the precautions. He is however grateful that he remains unscathed to date.
Since the vaccine is being touted as the best means to reduce the impact of the virus on one’s health, Allie is among the many advocates for vaccine uptake. He said, “persons should try to educate themselves about the vaccine and they should take it because it is part of protecting yourself and others.”
When he is not carrying out his duties at the hospital or taking care of his family, Allie, a deputy Imam, is engaged in the business of furthering the work of the Almighty.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 23, 2024
Kaieteur Sports – Over the weekend, the prestigious Lusignan Golf Club played host to the highly anticipated AMCHAM Golf Tournament, drawing golf enthusiasts and professionals alike from across...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]