If you want lessons in resilience and how to balance family life with work responsibilities, let the staff of the Health Department of Princess Margaret Hospital tell you about their Medial Officer, Dr. Yvonne Arlene Munroe-Whitmore. Her knowledge, pleasant personality and Christian virtues have pervaded the work environment during her seven-year stay, even when arsonists destroyed her home.
May 2000, the day before Mother's Day. Dr. Munroe and the rest of the family were awakened by her husband Earl, who urged them to get outside as smoke was coming inside to the upper bedrooms. Along with their sons Mikhail and Matthew and the new helper who had just started working with them that evening, they hurried downstairs. Eventually the dazed dogs ran out as well. The family could do nothing but watch helplessly as all their earthly possessions except the night garb they had on were consumed by fire.
"In the morning I went on the rubble and said, 'Lord, if you cause this one to burn down then you have a better one for me'," Dr. Munroe recalled.
Family, friends
She told Outlook that she believes that the Lord takes people through adversity to strengthen their bonds with family and friends.
"On Mother's Day I went to Bonn Hall in St. Ann with friends, where I was dressed in a pair of shorts and a blouse while others were 'decked out' but I was contented and I had a good time."
Everyone played a role in helping her to deal with the situation - her colleagues who studied medicine with her in Cuba, and all her staff. In addition, she was given two weeks post traumatic stress leave from work.
On reflection, Dr. Munroe pointed out that it was God who prepared her husband, Earl to guide them out of the house. He is a deep sleeper but heavy rains had prevented him from completing a task he had as a landscaper, so he had slept during the day. Therefore, he was alert for most of the night and was able to detect the smoke.
Dr. Munroe has the record of being one of the longest serving Medical Officers at the Princess Margaret Hospital. She has also agitated for an H.I.V. site and plans are afoot to establish this centre at the hospital, with the help of a foreign company, soon.
Dr. Munroe has since taken up a position at the Ministry of Health but members of staff at the hospital were eager to voice their views on her resilience and family life, and on her work responsibilities.
"Outwardly, she held on. She never looked distressed. She is a people person, never too busy to hear a suggestion and although she lives in Kingston she made every effort to be here. She is a motivator and has a word for every situation,"said Corlette Francis, a member of the administrative staff. Corlette continued: "She is the leader of the technical team; has insight, is proactive and thorough in her report. These qualities help the individual to grow as one of the team players."
A listening ear
One public health inspector said, "Once she sees that your countenance has changed she asks if you have a problem, closes the door and gives a listening ear. Then she advises in a methodical non judgmental manner.
"She does home visits with the nurse once she is needed. She is also a proponent for the healthy lifestyle for the patients as well as her staff; hence each health centre has tried to set up its own lifestyle programme."
Dr. Munroe said: "I wanted to interface with the community at different levels and primary health care is the first point of entry. Once we can influence health behaviour at the grass root level we will progress." She quipped, "I also wanted to go home to my family after work."
She did not hesitate to highlight the challenges, however, among them being the inability to attract local doctors and the need for a central sewage system at the hospital.
Her team, nevertheless, has been able to rise above the challenges to perform yeoman service. And for that she commends them. "The team is stable, hardworking and is confident, always going beyond the call of duty, whatever the challenges."
This Kingstonian is from a family of 11 siblings, enjoys reading and culinary arts. She is a woman who fears and hears from the Lord.
"The Lord showed me that I would be here for seven years and I am going on to serve with a positive attitude."
