For months in 2016, mother of three Sharron Ally knew that all was not well with her physically, but even as she sought treatment she persevered with working and providing for her family until a shocking diagnosis literally stopped her in her tracks and today she wishes she had been more alert and concerned about her health.
Tiffeney Ageda is a woman who is living in constant fear as she said an ex-boyfriend has been stalking and harassing her even as he manipulates the system to make it appear that he is the victim.
When a young Carla Cassiano agreed to be part of a refraction technique training, she was unsure what it entailed but looking back years later she believes that it was the best decision she has made as not only is she now a qualified optometrist but she has been able to use her skills to make eye care more accessible in hinterland regions.
“A lot of us don’t like to talk about it but we are at times not happy to become old.
She sits on the pavement in front of a popular downtown Georgetown mall, her hands working feverishly as she crochets.
Jackie ‘Jaxx’ Hanover is well known for her music and more recently her Jaxx Apparel clothing line.
When Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud recently expressed gratitude to foster parents who have “opened their hearts and homes to children” in need of family-based care, she was referring to women like Melrose George, who has been fostering children for the past eight years.
Two young nurses working at a regional hospital saw abused women turning up to be treated daily and apart from helping to treat them they also wanted to understand the cause and effect of such violence.
“Building a home is a taxing process for any person but I believe it’s a lot more difficult when you’re young and add to the mix, a woman.
President of the Guyana Nurses Association Cleopatra Barkoye believes there has been not much movement forward in the profession at the local level since she joined it over 30 years ago and as the world observed International Nurses and Midwives Day last Wednesday, instead of celebrating she grieved for the practicing nurses in Guyana.
At one point in her childhood Crystal Lam and her family lived in a tent and later she became a teenage mother but she never allowed those challenges to prevent her from one day fulfilling her dream of having her own business.
“I miss my students and sometimes and I worry about them a lot.
I was prepared for the morning sickness and food aversions, big feet, swollen fingers, shortness of breath, huge nose and lips, darkened skin across the neck, face and the unimaginable places and of course the stretch marks which many regard as badges of honour.
Dr Dawn Fox developed a love affair with Chemistry in secondary school, which has flourished as she now lecturers in the field, has done tons of research and if all goes well will soon produce a household water filter made entirely from recycled and locally available materials, which can be deployed in vulnerable communities and emergency situations.
As a child Raquel Sagon had visited a dental clinic in Linden where there was no dentist on duty.
“The first time I really get to experience it is when I was at this police function and the driver of the officer come to me and was giving me some keys.
Psychologist Anju Vivekanandaraj and her family have made Guyana their home and for the first time she has been able to practically utilize her area of study by attending to the mental health of others; she relishes the freedom women are allowed and that is one of the many reasons she is happy here.
Depression and anxiety are mental health problems, but people are often afraid to admit that they are struggling with these complaints because they are ashamed or do not want to be labelled as mad.
A cruel twist of fate last month drastically altered the life of Padminie McRae forever when an accident at the Infectious Diseases Hospital forced the amputation of her left leg from above the knee, after she was mistakenly admitted as a positive COVID-19 patient.
She sits across from me and cheerily talks about her life.
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