Guyana 2004-2005

" As an intern for CSIH’s Public Health Strengthening in Guyana project, I had the privilege of working with some of the finest and most dedicated health workers in the country. My main task was to provide database training for staff at the tuberculosis and STI/HIV clinics.

Georgetown in many ways is a typical city in a developing country, yet full of surprises. From the airplane upon my arrival, the city seemed dark, devoid of light. Many streets lack street lamps, however during Christmas time, homeowners love to put up their Christmas lights and the city’s Main Street is adorned with festive decorations. Intersections in the city do not have traffic lights, and the ones that do don’t function ... Blackouts are common, the sewage is untreated, and the murky tap water is unfit for drinking, but many families have no trouble finding affordable bottled water. Poorly constructed shacks on squatting areas where children play barefoot are easy to find, but so are grand houses and mansions with barbed wires and private guards.... Such contradictions make reality in Guyana. Guyana is a young nation endowed with rich natural resources, but without the capacity to exploit nor preserve them. It is an English-speaking oasis in South America and distinctively Caribbean in culture with an Indian flare. I am truly grateful that I have been able to experience it all."

Nellie Chang
Guyana, 2004-2005