Essequibo girl defies all odds in becoming a medical doctor

By Indrawattie Natram –

As a small girl growing up in the indigenous environment of Capoey on the Essequibo Coast, Smolana Swan always had the vision to change things in her community and to become someone who serves people. Swan, as she acquired her early education, still was not sure what exactly she wanted to do; however, as she entered secondary school, she set her sights on becoming a medical doctor.

After much persuasion, the young woman said it was her single mother, Magdalene Henry, who eventually nurtured her strength and focus on becoming a medical doctor.

Focused
The 25-year-old said she was focused on making her mother proud as well as the people of Capoey Amerindian community as being the first doctor to hail from the village. Swan said she entered the science and technology stream at the Anna Regina Multilateral School to gain much knowledge in the field of science.
She said being in the science field set the foundation for her to become a doctor.
After graduating from secondary school in 2006, she applied for a Cuban scholarship through the government of Guyana. She said with a spark of luck, she got into the programme. She praised the government for providing such an opportunity to her.
Swan said her acceptance by the Cuban government to study medicine drew her closer to her dream. The young lady left Guyana to pursue that dream at age 19. She said for her, it was a huge change in her life.
Swan said she had to change everything and adopt the new way of life in another country. Despite the many challenges, she managed to prevail with determination and courage.
The young doctor explained that the seven years she spent away from her family groomed her into a responsible person. She explained she has grown to care, respect and to treat her fellow humans with much love and compassion.
She said her general medicine course taught her to respect as well as care for the old and young. “During my training, I enjoyed every bit of it, I feel so privileged to be given the opportunity to serve, to care for my fellow human beings, I am so happy and thank God for seeing me through this and for blessing me to complete my medicine course, in return, I will only serve my people.”
Swan said having returned to Guyana and graduated as a certified general medical doctor, she will visit her community and provide much needed medical services. She said the community of Capoey had long waited for a doctor and she is proud to have an opportunity to make an impact.
When asked how she plans to serve persons from the Capoey community, Swan said she will do home visits, patient care and assist her people whenever they visit the hospital. She also said she shared her number with the toshao of the village so that medical advice as well as referrals can be given promptly.

Support
The doctor said she is very happy to be back in Essequibo and thanked her mother and her aunts for the support they have given her during her studies. Swan, who is the eldest child of her mother, said she always wanted to set a good example for her other siblings to follow and she is happy she did.
She said the longer one takes to realise one’s potential, the longer the process of achieving that will take.
The young doctor’s mother, Magdalene Henry said she is happy to have her daughter home and she thanked the government of Guyana for providing her with the opportunity to realise her dream. Henry, who is headmistress of a nursery school, said it was her desire for her daughter to be ambitious in life.
She said the best thing a parent could offer a child is a sound education. The mother said she made many sacrifices for her daughter to become a doctor and she is very proud of that.