THE FLIGHT OF COMMON SENSE

COMMON SENSE IS NOT ALWAYS ‘COMMON’ OR IS IT ALWAYS ‘SENSIBLE’.
And because it does not always accurately predict reality, people often need other variables to
help complement it since it is usually unreflective not questioning its very origin.
Sociologists pride themselves of using logic and reason as problem-solving mechanisms while
users of common-sense resort to conjecture and stereotypical beliefs. Common sense is based
upon assumptions, whereas, sociology looks for empirical evidence.
Common sense views are based upon the images that get reinforced through tradition. But
sociological knowledge challenges these traditions and stereotypes.
The Italian journalist, philosopher, writer, linguist and politician, the late Antonio Francesco
Gramsci, linked common sense with the masses, but theoretical thoughts with the elite.
This brings us to the decision by Mr. Malcolm Watkins, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the
Ministry of Health, to axe dozens of Community Health Workers (CHWs) when the sector
desperately needs all hands on deck to help overcome the myriad challenges it faces, even under
the most favourable of conditions.
That the CHWs were fired during the ongoing pandemic which has so far killed more than 4
million globally and over 500 in Guyana, strains credulity.
What were Watkins and the ministry of health thinking about those 35 CHWs from
Demerara/Mahaica (Region Four) and the 49 from East Berbice/ Corentyne (Region Six)?
One struggles to locate Gramsci’s elitist theoretical thoughts in this shameful decision. Outside
of partisan party politics, there is no logical reason to send home the CHWs when Watkins
would later complain about skills shortage in the embattled sector.
A senior ministry of health official stated that Watkins’ later admission about the severe shortage
of nurses is “something that many are aware of (hence) the CHWs were to complement nursing
sector owing to severe shortages”.

The official explained that the training of the CHWs was comprehensive and Region-specific.
And the narrative peddled that they were “not properly and/or fully trained” is a limp
justification, the senior official said.
“You had persons being trained in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) that’s specific,
because…the shortage of nurses would have been impacting even to the health post and health
centres. So, the CHWs would have been the ones to complement those and to assist by being
assigned to hospitals and health centres where necessary,” the official explained.
This initiative was geared towards ensuring that the public had easier access healthcare. This
media house was told that the primary focus of the CHW training was geared towards ensuring
diabetic and patients affected by other infectious diseases would enjoy homecare if they are
unable to attend the health centres and health posts.
“These were some of the things that included in the CHWs training. This was a short-term
programme in comparison to the longer programmes which are the nursing and nursing assistant
programmes…run for three- and two-years durations respectively,” the knowledgeable official
said.
The official stressed that there were no logical reasons for the decision to send home the CHWs.
The Gramscian elitist thinking was evident. This was a classic flight of common sense. The
official noted that while the CHWs programme was a mere six months training, the beneficiaries
were competent to assist the nurses and other health care officials effectively.
The CHWs were caught in a vortex of a blame game in between the change of political
administrations following the 2020 polls. Ultimately, the official the Public Service Management
(PSM) is to blame that the hapless CHWs were never fully employed in the public sector.
“The truth is that it was PSM who failed at this entire situation because when the request for
employment was sent… the matter was dragged out significantly because PSM had them going
from the region to the ministry and vice versa. During this time the CHWs were being affected
as there was so many stupid queries,” the visibly upset MoH official said.

“The PSM knew very well what took place and it's sad that unfortunately these CHWs are the
ones suffering as a result of incompetence and inefficiency. PSM knows that they are the ones to
be blamed, but it’s just a bundle of lies that are being given to these CHWs”.
Due to the shortage of skilled workers, the government was forced to recruit medical and nursing
students to aid in the vaccination campaign. The CHWs could have played a more integral part in
this very important campaign and (prevent) the government from utilising so many nurses that
are on the programme.
“Sending home, the CWHs, was very short-sighted, and unfortunately, the country will be
affected significantly for a poor decision, the source said.
“I think that the government should rethink its decision on this matter as unfortunately whether
they want to believe it or not, it’s not the CHWs fault as I can tell you directly that several of
their own supporters were on this programme.”
“When this programme was executed, persons got unto the programme irrespective of their
political affiliation, and in several of these communities you had known PPPC supporters. So, I
trust that commonsense will prevail as it's not only APNU+AFC supporters who were affected if
they want to look at it this way,” the official emphasised.
This appeal to commonsense was too late. Ask the CHWs.