FORT CHARLOTTE, Hanover — Kersha Walker is on the road at 4:00 in the morning most days, determined not to be late for the 6:00 am start to prepare meals for patients of Noel Holmes Hospital. She’s assistant head cook in the hospital’s dietary department and she was among 11 employees whose outstanding performance on the job was recently recognised during an awards ceremony.

Walker was named staff of the quarter alongside Claudette Russell from the housekeeping department and Evon Lee, who is a porter.

Walker is from a neighbourhood often impacted by curfews imposed by the security forces to address issues within nearby communities. It is not uncommon for her to walk some of the way to work when there are no taxis available.

“Sometimes it is a little challenging reaching to work,” she told the Jamaica Observer. “I have to wake up very early just to make sure that I reach work on time and that my patients get their meals on time, because really and truly the food is your medicine, your first medicine.”

Walker, who has worked at the hospital for the past 16 years, loves her job and takes it very seriously.

“I do not like to be late. That is not my name. I just love to do what I do and do it to the best of my ability. You will have challenges but you have to work against the odds and with Christ in the vessel, you can smile at the storm,” she said with calm conviction.

She is thrilled that the work being done by her and her colleagues was recognised during last Friday’s event. In addition to the three staff of the quarter awards, eight employees were lauded for exemplary service. Awardees received certificates of appreciation, cash awards and hotel passes.

The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Carlington McLennon said the gesture of appreciation is the first of what will be a quarterly event.

“This is the first of such a ceremony and the second one will be in December. The objective of this ceremony is to show staff that their hard work is recognised and we in management appreciate what they are doing and we want to show tangibly our appreciation,” the CEO explained.

McLennon said the feedback from staff has been positive.

“Persons are of the impression that we in management are not seeing what they are doing. So when we get opportunities like these to show them [that] although we don’t say it every day… you’re doing a good job, we are actually seeing,” argued McLennon.

The awards were made possible by the hospital’s new board Chairman Donovan Hamilton. He did his homework and realised that not much had been done in the past to show appreciation for some staff members. He decided to change that.

“Those that have done excellently, you recognise them because when they do poorly we criticise them,” stated Hamilton.

In addition to providing some of the awards himself, he was able to garner support from corporate Jamaica with Chukka and Grand Palladium Resort among the companies that came on board.

The chairman stressed that, going forward, things will not be the same.

“I have made it clear that receiving these awards comes with greater responsibility. I expect them to behave and treat the patients who come there well. Because they come there sometimes in pain and are frustrated but you can’t respond in like manner. You have to empathise with them,” stated Hamilton.

Constructed in the 18th century, a section of the building that houses the type-C Noel Holmes Hospital is a national landmark. The medical facility currently has a staff complement of more than 200. It was originally named Lucea Hospital and was renamed in 1970 in honour of Dr Noel Norman Holmes, who was the hospital’s chief medical officer between 1947 and 1966. He died on November 12, 1966.