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Hereabouts: Doctor aids the poor of Jamaica
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Most Americans think of Jamaica as a vacation spot as close to paradise as can be imagined. But Dr. Stephen Guy knows this small country as two distinctly different worlds — one that caters to the desires of tourists — and one that is a backdrop in the day-to-day struggle to survive.
"Jamaica used to be a totally self-sufficient economy," Guy said. "But because of free trade, growth has slowed, and the people can't compete with the bigger markets."
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According to Guy, the majority of Jamaica's population are farmers with limited resources and not enough jobs to go around; most live in extreme poverty.
Until about three years ago, Guy, who has a busy OB/GYN practice in Vandalia and, along with his wife, Chris, is raising eight children, didn't realize that Jamaica was one of many countries that desperately needed affordable and quality medical care.
"A nurse in one of our local hospitals told me about an organization called ACE (American Caribbean Experience) and the need for physicians to go on mission trips," Guy said. "The next thing I knew, I had agreed to go to Jamaica."
Guy, the only physician on the trip, was asked if he would become the medical director for their small, but growing program. Guy agreed. A longtime member of Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, Guy knew he could count on his fellow parishioners to help.
"Ginghamsburg is a mission-focused church," Guy said. "And they have been really helpful in booking the trips, recruiting and organizing everything."
And though Guy's trips are termed "medical" missions, people with nonmedical backgrounds also go along. "The poverty is so widespread there and the need is so great that there is much to be done."
Guy explained that most trips include physicians, dentists, optometrists, massage therapists, nurses, physical therapists and lay people that help with crowd control, appointments and teaching. "We need to make sure these people have their basic needs of shelter and good food and water met before we can provide good medical care," Guy said.
The average annual income in Jamaica is only about $3,900, and there is a high unemployment rate. Medical and dental care has become a luxury.
"Unfortunately when people are sick and they need care, medicine cannot be a luxury item," Guy said.
Guy leads his teams of 20 to 25 on several weeklong trips each year to Saint Mary Parish in Jamaica, where he has established a relationship with ministers and the community.
"We are the only source of medical care for these people," Guy said. "Services Americans take for granted like vaccinations for their children, and ambulance and emergency services, are out of reach for the average Jamaican citizen."
Volunteers are always needed for the trips.
"If someone feels that spark or nudge inside of them, they should call Ginghamsburg or visit the Web site (www.ginghamsburg.org) and join us for our next trip in June."
Contact this reporter at (937) 475-8212 or banspach@woh.rr.com.
