MONTEGO BAY, St James

At 83, Dr Henry ‘Marco’ Brown, CD, JP, has received a number of awards over the years for his contribution to nation building, particularly in the fields of medicine, politics and agriculture.

But there is none dearer to him than the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) Fellow he received from his medical peers at his Unity Hall residence in St James on the weekend.

“Thanks for the honour. This is the best thing that could ever happen to me,” said Dr Brown, the well- known Montego Bay-based family practitioner, as he accepted the prestigious award from MAJ president, Dr Shane Alexis.

“For me, to be honoured by the persons who are your colleagues is the highest honour that you can get, and I didn’t even expect to receive this honour from you all.”

According to Dr Alexis, the MAJ’s fellow is the highest award given by the association to its members.

“It is given as a result of sterling and exceptional service to the association and by extension to health in the country,” said Dr Alexis, adding that there can only be a maximum of four “living fellows at anyone time.”

Presently, he added, apart from Dr Brown, there are two other fellows- Dr Rudolph Shoucair and Dr Matthew Beaubrun.

He stressed that Dr Brown was part of the initial group of doctors in the western Jamaica who “saw the need for us to unite as a group around issues… not just about wages but interest in patients and development of health as a whole.”

Dr Brown, the son of a medical practitioner, who served the medical fraternity for more than five decades, retired three years ago, but still finds time “to see a few patients,” at his home.

He told the Jamaica Observer West that he has not regretted “for one minute” his contribution to health care in the island.

“I have always wanted to become a doctor, and I have enjoyed it tremendously,” said Dr Brown, who has delivered more than 4,000 babies and has attended to “many, many thousands” of patients throughout his illustrious career.

A number of his colleagues, family members and friends, were on hand last Friday at the presentation ceremony.

Longtime friend and colleague Dr Barry Hastings in his remarks noted that not only has Dr Brown excelled in the field of medicine, but he has made a significant contribution to the island’s economy, as a Junior Tourism Minister and as a farmer.

Another of his colleagues, Dr Hector Robinson, believes Dr Brown is deserving of the award.

“I am extremely pleased; he has been an exemplary doctor in the community. He has a picture- perfect smile, he is humble, pleasant, and he is very interested in his patients, so I think he is deserving of the honour,” he argued.

And Member of Parliament for St James Central Lloyd B Smith also commended Dr Brown for copping the award.

“He (Dr Brown) is a legend in Montego Bay, and he did not achieve it because of any notoriety, but because of his generosity of spirit, having been a good physician, a good citizen and someone who is easy to get along with,” said Smith, adding that Dr Brown possesses an irrepressible charm.