Dr Stacey-Ann Ramjitsingh-Samuel
"Pay it Forward" - this has been a lifelong lesson which was instilled in my siblings and me. Thankfully it was also the ethos of my husband, and we are lucky to have been able to teach this, by example, to our children. Volunteering during the current global pandemic has allowed me to show my children what it truly means to "pay it forward".
At the many vaccination sites, I was amazed at the warm reception by staff and fellow volunteers, and the willingness of personnel to give advice, reassurance and even physical assistance to those who needed it. The seed for volunteering was planted.
I received encouragement from Orthodontist, Dr George Elias who constantly used every social media platform to encourage us as dentists to "step up and help" and who issued “a call to arms”. My staff at the dental office whom I consider family, such as Dr Timothy Murray, also gave their unwavering support thereby giving me the ability to volunteer.
The most important factor for me was my family's input and support. My husband Dr Dale Maharaj gave me a physiology and anatomy lesson as to the medical implications of vaccinations, my daughter Alexandra was my biggest cheerleader and my son Zachery, has been my peer review advisor on COVID-19. He hates needles and was constantly looking for an alternative. We are all now a fully vaccinated family and grateful to the Government and the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association (T&TMA) for making this possible.
My first-time volunteering was at Centre Pointe Mall and this was made possible by the Diabetic Association of Trinidad and Tobago ably led by Andrew Dhanoo, the President. It felt as if I was in university again seeing the many familiar faces in the health profession, including our own Dr Safeeya Mohammed who managed the site like a well-oiled machine as the Medical Director. Nurses, vets, pharmacists, dentists, and medical doctors were all represented. We learnt the process, adapted quickly and worked as a team, to allay the concerns of all, as the vaccination process was new to the population. Nurse Snaggs who took us through our time there is a pillar of strength and knowledge. My nickname for her was "Nursey" and she was our “rock”. She kept us steady and the numbers “in check.”
My "NAPA TEAM" where I spent more time volunteering, eventually became a family. Dr Maria Bartholomew, Roxanne Pantin, Angeli Singh and Curtis Charles made it possible for us, the volunteers, to do our part in this historic time. These giants in the community inspired us all every day to work harder and try harder. Their devotion to community service was a great honour to observe. We had available to the team, brilliant minds like Professor Monteil to not only volunteer but answer any possible medical questions that were asked by members of the public. The team of pediatricians which included - Dr Catherine Charles, Dr Kiera Lourenco, Dr Camille Greene, Dr Lenny Akan and Dr Vanessa Stewart who were available to us alongside other medical professionals such as Dr Debra Bartholomew, made it effortless for me as a dentist to get advice for all the children I vaccinated and the concerned parents who had questions. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Volunteer team and DJ were our backbone, without whom we could not have done what we were able to do.
It was inspiring to see senior persons, who were indoors for months trying to protect themselves, applauded for getting their vaccines. However, I tip my hat to our nation’s future, the children who brought their reluctant parents to get vaccinated as well. My heart is filled with gratitude especially to these younger ones, you encouraged us to persevere with your smiles and giggles. Hats off to them, the younger generation who obviously researched the pros and cons of vaccinations and were our “at home” ambassadors for vaccinations.
I have never been prouder to call myself a "TRINBAGONIAN”. Volunteering has renewed my faith in people, both the people I worked with as well as the people I vaccinated.
Every creed, colour, race, age, professional background, and political belief gathered at different sites around Trinidad and Tobago to both vaccinate and be vaccinated. Thank you for all the love, respect and community spirit I felt during my time vaccinating, it is something I would do again in a heartbeat. Let’s continue to "fight COVID-19".