Several Jamaicans received National Honours in the 2014 schedule of honours and awards announced August 6 and presented at the Ceremony of Investiture on Heroes Day, October 20, at Kings House. In a two-part feature, the North Coast Times highlights some of the awardees from the Coast. This week we carry features on recipients of the Badge of Honour, including: Elsie Christie, Erna May Walters, Dorothy Boyd-Brown and Yvonne Scott. Part 2 will be published next week, in the North Coast Times.
DOROTHY BOYD-BROWN — Badge of Honour
More than four decades in nursing
Dorothy Boyd- Brown is a registered midwife who is also trained in institutional management and human management and who works in the Maternal and Child Health Department at the St Ann’s Bay Health Centre in the parish capital.
With 41 years of service under her belt, Nurse Boyd- Brown was on Monday, October 20, recognized during the National Awards and Honours ceremony at Kings House. She received the badge of Honour for long and dedicated service to the field of health. It’s an honour she believes is well deserved considering how hard she has worked over these fortyone years, and she is still contributing to nation building.
“I am happy. I think when you have worked and someone recognizes your contribution to nation building, I think that you did provide reasonable service,” said Nurse Boyd -Brown who is also a First Aid instructor .
Nurse Boyd- Brown explained that her journey in health started after she could not afford to enter law school, even after being accepted and doing her mandatory two year stint as an assistant clerk of the court at the St. Ann’s Bay Resident Magistrates Court. She had also taught for two years at a primary school. She explained that nursing was always her second love and when law didn’t work out, she turned to nursing.
Despite the challenges facing the sector, Nurse Boyd- Brown said her passion for health care has kept her going. She said she has enjoyed many good times during her journey and would not trade her profession for another. “To survive you have to be creative and you have to have a passion for the job,” she said.
Nurse Boy-Brown heads the team that works in the maternal and child health department at the clinic. Their duties it involve counselling, doing Pap smears, immunization, breast examination, fertility management and counselling for menopause. She also introduced a Saturday Clinic at the facility which is still ongoing.
WORKED AS MATRON
Nurse Boyd -Brown worked for many years as a matron at the St Ann and St. Mary Infirmaries and was the first school nurse at Marcus Garvey Technical High School. She has spent many years at St. Ann’s Bay Clinic and is now nn to her twelfth year since her return to the St Ann Health Department.
“I have no regrets entering nursing. I will do it all over again, because you get to help many persons and when someone comes into the facility with problems and you were able to help them so that when they were leaving they were smiling and happy you feel a sense of fullfilment,” she explained to the North Coast Times.
An active member of the Hoolebury Methodist Church, Nurse Boyd-Brown serves as president of the Women’s League. She also serves as board member at Hoolebury Primary School and chairman of Friends of Hoolebury Primary School.
Nurse Boyd -Brown said she often assists people in her Hampstead community with various physical needs. Additionally, she regularly sources clothing and other personal items for the parish’s HIV programme.
She said her husband and children have been very supportive of her work in health and the community
