Dear Editor,

A few days ago my helper called to say she was sick and would not be coming to work. The problem was a loose wisdom tooth that was causing her pain and headache. My husband and I took her to the nearest health centre in Gordon Town.

Upon our arrival at about 9.30 am it quickly became clear that there was no chance of her getting help that day. Ten people were waiting for tooth extractions from the one person on duty. There were at least 150 people, most of whom had arrived at the crack of dawn, waiting to get other types of assistance, including newborn infants and young children. The ratio of men to women was, at a conservative estimate, 15 to one.

Apparently, taking sick children to the doctor is, like everything else, connected with childbirth and child-raising, strictly a woman's task. Upon hearing that there was a medical centre called FISH in Papine that had reasonable user fees, we decided to go there. The contrast could not have been greater: although there was a lot more space, only about 20 or so people were waiting for general medical assistance. The waiting room for dental assistance was empty, but even so we were instructed to take a number (there was only one ticket). Within a matter of an hour, my helper had been registered, an X-ray taken, and the offending tooth extracted, all for the payment of $5,000 (about US$60). She was, however, concerned to hear that the loose tooth was the result of gum disease and that more treatment (to the tune of $16,000) would be required, failing which she risked losing all her other teeth.

Apparently, taking sick children to the doctor is, like everything else, connected with childbirth and child-raising, strictly a woman's task. Upon hearing that there was a medical centre called FISH in Papine that had reasonable user fees, we decided to go there. The contrast could not have been greater: although there was a lot more space, only about 20 or so people were waiting for general medical assistance. The waiting room for dental assistance was empty, but even so we were instructed to take a number (there was only one ticket). Within a matter of an hour, my helper had been registered, an X-ray taken, and the offending tooth extracted, all for the payment of $5,000 (about US$60). She was, however, concerned to hear that the loose tooth was the result of gum disease and that more treatment (to the tune of $16,000) would be required, failing which she risked losing all her other teeth.

Clearly, on a wage of $2,000 per day (from which she has to pay bus and taxi fares of $320), it will take her a while to reimburse us the $21,000 that we have advanced for her so that she can get the treatment. The only service offered at the health centre in Gordon Town is extraction, and even if she was prepared to undergo this ordeal, she would then have to pay for dentures which probably cost as much as the orthodontic treatment. As she is a "day's worker" she is not entitled to health benefits from any source.

As we contemplated the great divide that continues to exist between the haves and the have-nots in the 50th year of our Independence, my husband and I could only dream of the wonders that could have been accomplished at the Gordon Town Health Centre with the $60 million it was said take to refurbish the official residence of a former minister. Not to mention the $200 million per year that it will take to house, feed, clothe (Escada suits and all!) and drive the new Cabinet in the manner to which they have become accustomed. Or even the $3 million for yet another swearing-in for which more designer outfits had to be bought. In the meantime, let us salute the Foundation for International Self-Help Jamaica (FISH) for the excellent service they provide.

Lois Adams

loisfal@compuserve.com

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