Clinical Education Update

Navigating in Guyana

by Patricia Jiang and Courtney Phillips, PT Students

We are two second year physiotherapy students who had the opportunity to complete our Neurotherapeutics clinical placements in Georgetown, Guyana. Over the course of seven weeks we discovered many wonders in Guyana, the challenges for physiotherapy and unique methods to overcome these challenges. We feel fortunate and would love to share our experiences with you.

Arriving in Guyana, we were surprised to find that cars drove on the other (left) side of the road, horses and various other large animals freely roamed the streets, and promptness was of minor significance. The temperature stood around a steady 25-30°C and mosquitos were a baseline intrusion on our daily lives (5-10 bites a day were the norm and we learned to expect it). Although English is the official Guyanese language, the accents and the local dialect often made communication challenging. We had to adapt to the Guyanese way of life, including learning to shop at the busy markets, squeezing into the minibuses, and lighting our gas oven at home! We also had to adapt to eating Guyanese food. Everyday produce for us, such as broccoli, green beans, and boneless meats, were often luxury goods in that country. The Guyanese diet also consisted heavily of starches and carbohydrates, so we had to try and maintain a balanced diet.

At our clinical placement, we quickly realized that the Guyanese public health care system lacked the organization that we take for granted in Canada. Patients would often miss their appointments or arrive at the clinic at their convenience without scheduling. This resulted in us having little to no patience sometimes, and being overwhelmed in the clinic at others. The patient handling techniques used in Guyana were also less delicate than we are accustomed to in Canada and confidentiality was rarely enforced in their care system.

We learned to use the resources provided and gained a greater appreciation of how to produce quality work with limited equipment. We enjoyed working in an interdisciplinary team with rehabilitation assistants, nurses, social workers, teachers, and other health care staff. The laid-back attitudes of the Guyanese made for an easy, accepting, and comfortable work environment. Opportunities arose to witness more specialized techniques such as the operations of the diabetic foot clinic, observing several orthopedic surgeries, and participating in a sports physiotherapy opportunity at a cricket game. Although we did not see a very diverse population of clients, we had ample opportunity to assess and treat adult and pediatric patients with neurological conditions.

Our time in Guyana was not all business. We had an amazing time integrating into the way of life there. From traveling into the interior and seeing the rainforest, waterfalls, and savannah, to learning how to dance like the locals, we felt truly immersed in the Guyana experience. We quickly learned how to navigate the city by bus and on foot, found delicious and inexpensive local restaurants, and made use of resources such as the public library.

All in all, we felt that our time in Guyana was a valuable chance to step back from the fast-paced whirlwind of Western society (and physiotherapy school), and gain an appreciation for the finer aspects of life. We have a greater understanding now about what it is like to work and live in a developing country, as well as gained more insight about ourselves as individuals. We would encourage you to make the journey as well!