Fr. Richard Holung"I want to do something that has value without looking for reward. My values and beliefs lead me to reach out and touch humanity. When I do this without material gains, the labour does not disturb me. I give without expecting any return."
Professor Barton
"MAY I interview you for The Gleaner?" "I would rather not, I prefer to do my work quietly." "Our society needs to know about you. We must have models for the young." Finally, I convinced Professor Barton that part of our obligation is to give witness to the young generation.
I was struck by the professionalism of Professor Barton while taking care of Brother Rolando who had suffered from total kidney failure. He was straightforward, calm, clear, unmoved by the emotional nature of our young brother having to face life without kidneys and the great difficulty that would be caused by the events to come. "We will begin with haemodialysis. The ultrasound indicates that his kidneys are not functioning. After the haemodialysis, we will put him on peritoneal dialysis. We hope but cannot be sure that his body will adapt to the peritoneal dialysis." I asked if there is any chance his kidneys would awaken. "The kidney biopsy shows it will not be so, barring a miracle." But he went on to explain, "the dialysis can work as his kidneys for many years to come. He can have a full life. We need not think of a kidney transplant now. Let us see how the dialysis works."
We have been in constant communication during Brother Rolando's stay at the hospital, which has been close to two months. I have become more and more intrigued by Professor Barton. His simplicity and directness, his clarity of mind and confidence, were woven in with a warmth and humanity that led me to want to understand this silent hero, a man of marvellous expertise whose mind and heart were beautifully balanced.
His strictness and sternness were directed to one cause: the professionalism of young doctors the care of the many patients that he attended. Professor Barton is a real man, a West Indian that should be upheld as a real great for the young generations. He does not seem to take human suffering lightly for all his many years of attending to thousands of patients across the globe. When talking to family members of patients, he was totally attentive; when supervising interns and their care for patients, he was careful, direct and lucid. I saw him in the haemodialysis unit and the peritoneal unit, which he had founded and he was always pleasant yet serious, kind and attentive.
Professor Barton studied his Bachelor of Science at St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago. He received his Master's Degree in Bachelor of Science in Nigeria. He did post degree studies in that country. He worked there and had close affinity to missionaries.
After some marvellous years of service in Nigeria, Professor Barton went to his homeland to service between 1983-1989, and then the thirst for knowledge and greater service had him return to the University Hospital of the West Indies in 1989 to specialise in internal medicine. Completing that degree, he went to England between 1993-1995 and sub-specialised in Nephrology in Worthington, England, then he came back to Jamaica and has been here since 1995.
"Too many people die of kidney disease in Jamaica." That's why, I believe, he came back after he had left in 1993. "The poverty of the people and the struggle to find the bus fare; the inability to purchase the medicine and the lack of funds for the dialysis, are a problem. There is also the shortage of space at the hospital."
Professor Barton started the first Renal Unit at UWI on Ward 4. He is known as the "Squatter" because of the machines he introduces to Ward 4 for the peritoneal dialysis. Those machines were in such a demand by the many Jamaicans suffering from kidney failure, they just never moved from the rear section of Ward 4.
Professor Barton tells how other medics have given their own money to transport the poor from rural areas to UWI hospital and to KPH. He tells of the fish fries, the gospel concerts, and the marathon walks conducted by medical doctors to raise funds for equipment, medicines as well as bus fares.
In his relentless drive to save lives from kidney failure, Professor Barton has given talks during the marathon walks for kidney disease. His good friends, Professor Lawson Douglas and Professor George Nicholson, also pioneers in fighting kidney diseases, have spread awareness on radio, TV and newspaper articles.
In 1993, Professor Barton was asked to lead the dialysis programme at UWI. Quickly he volunteered at KPH to expand the programme. Today, he is happy to see a full time kidney doctor placed at KPH. In the year 2000, he took over the entire dialysis programme at UWI. He does so much and yet remains peaceful. How is this? "I learned from my parents: To maintain at all times equanimity and peace of mind." His grand mother told him, "If you do wrong, there will be no peace of mind. There are obstacles and temptations, but you must never fall." He added, "Belief and Faith in God, and cultural upbringing" are what help us to be strong and able to help people.
When Professor Barton visited Brother Rolando who was undergoing great stress due to the alarming rise of the urea creatinine in his blood, he reminded brother, "Though I walk in the valley of darkness, no evil will I fear." As a scientist, Professor Barton, who is the editor of the West Indian medical journal, nevertheless is a man of faith. He decided as a young man "to set my face steadfastly to the East and move on."
Today, is he is really a medical missionary. He is now filled with hope that someday there will be medical insurance for all in Jamaica so that the poor can benefit from medical care.
The Very Rev. Fr. Richard Ho Lung, M.O.P. is Founder and Superior General of The Missionaries of the Poor
