“Is this a Crib?” asks the ‘visitor’ with an exaggerated accent.
“Yes suh. A crab, suh.” the market vendor replies respectfully.
“Does it bite?”
“It doh have teeth suh.”
The visitor approaches to pet the crab. Without warning, the crab clamps down wickedly on the intruding finger. “Oh dear me, dear me!!!” The visitor screams. Nothing can pry him loose from its gondi (pincer/claw) – or so it seems.
Freeze the video for a moment.
‘They say to know right, is to do right.’ Well, we can debate whether this is always the case. Lots of us know the right thing to do, but humans can be hard-headed. For example, the manufacturer gives specific instructions in the car manual, when to change the oil, rotate the tires, and check the fluids and so on. Yet, some of us will keep driving the ride as long as it keeps running. Next thing you know, we’re at the mechanic complaining it’s making some strange sound or losing power.
‘Superior doctors prevent disease. Mediocre doctors treat the disease before evident. Inferior doctors treat the full blown disease.’ Huang Dee Nai Chan, 1st Chinese medical text, 2600 BC. We’ve known that from way back then. Even today, we are still trying to wrap our minds around this piece of ancient Chinese wisdom. The right thing to do medically is to comply with internationally recommended screening tests (< click here).
On a certain level, we all know what to do to stay healthy. The Cancer Society never fails to consistently promote prevention. Over the years we can recall bits and pieces. Today, wherever you are, here is screening outlined simply and completely. In this day age, just about everything is online. A literate person does not wait for a doctor to tell when it’s time for a routine test. The literate person helps his/her doctor be superior by reminding him/her, “Oh, Doc. It’s been a while I had such and such a test.”
Unfreeze video
“Pijay zyaie! Pijay zyaie!” (Pluck out its eyes! Pluck out its eyes!) All of a sudden the ‘visitor’ remembers the effective antidote to that cruel crab bite. Instantly, he speaks in once-forgotten perfect creole!
Even if we do all the right things, that’s no guarantee that we will live as long as Ma Pampo. It is like a cricketer batting brilliantly on her/his way to a well-deserved century. Out of the blue, a truly spectacular catch or a horrible mix-up run-out can end a promising inning. Life is like that. But, however things turn out; we want to have the peace of mind knowing we did the right things. Macho, macho men in particular, feeling indestructible, need all the help they can get in this matter.
At church, the sermon is usually about ‘Is it well with your soul?’ This column is usually about is ‘Is it well with your body?’ That panel of screening tests is the only metric that can be used to adequately answer the question. Sometimes we convince ourselves we are of saving time and money on ourselves only for things to come back and bite us in the brow. Early detection must be our watchword. Thanks in part primarily to our friends in Cuba and China, healthcare in Dominica is well-provided for, compared to other better-known places. Let’s take advantage of it.
Dr. Christian operates the Urgent Care on 137 Bath Road. He serves as Medical Adviser to the Dominica Cancer Society and Grotto Home for the Homeless as well as Medical Officer for the Dominica Cadet Corps. Click here http://urgentcareda.weebly.com/ for more information.
Seems to me Dr. Emanuel in his Health Talk column has spoken more than once about screening tests for men and women.
What’s going on, Dr. Christian, and DNO?
Exactly!
It seems most people still don’t get screened. So is something healthcare has to keep hammering. Any new and and interesting way that get the job done helps.
Humans all have head and shoulders, knees and toes so doctors at time appear to be repeating each other. If you didn’t get the message the first time, then maybe the second time it might stick.
These doctors are volunteering their time. I don’t think DNO tells them what to write. Sometimes its better to just say thank you and add helpful comments – maybe even correct them once in a while…
What about the health care we left behind in Tiffany?
lol… why ask if it have teeth, then when it bites you remember Pijay zyaie! ?? you know all along… did u forget where you came from? smh crib doesnt change.. why should you
pyjay means to squeeze …plucking out something is totally different ,,,it means to take off,remove ,pull out,extract,pick ,,hope this helps …
I was at a prostate screening at St. Joseph. Over two hundred men came from up and down the west coast. They were there early and waiting patiently. They got refreshments afterwards. Both patients and Cancer Society (along with those working with them) were all happy and proud of how things went.
Even so, we still have to be concerned about the hundreds more who didn’t show up. Anyway, keep pushing the message of screening tests. People are listening and responding. In fact I believe Dominicans, on average, are more aware and health conscious than people in other places I’ve lived.
And that’s something to be proud about!
lol…it doh have teeth suh….
I hope u fellahs didn’t hurt the crab! Seems the visitor was wrong to be so stupid.
One thing I didn’t get. You comparing the visitor pretending he doh know creole to people pretending they doh know how to check on them self. Is that it?
Man the visitor even more stupid than before, man!!!
It’s good to advance my career overseas because I don’t have these kind of opportunities back in Dominica.
But Dominica is always home and it’s nice know I can have reliable communication about my aged parents health care needs. I don’t expect them to have all kind of modern medical amenities here. Anyway, this kind of bedside manner takes us to a more international standard of care.
Keep up the good work Urgent Care!
well our ” hospital” aka gentle rest stinks. not a thing goes right there a once almost perfect health cae system under mamo is now worthless under skerrit … ask sonia…. the place is just worthless hence everyone goes overseas for treatment… so what can poor ppl do… skerrit must go…. vote him out
there is no perfect health care system. men and women must be in control by keeping preventative health appointments.
A stitch in time saves nine ,even more nowadays, thanks to you Dr.Christian for reminding us through this piece .
Thanks DOc. Listen to”de doctor” people.