COVID-19 pandemic provides opportunity for Barnett to move up the ranks

In just over a year, Jabari Barnett has risen from the position of relief orderly at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to the rank of orderly supervisor for the country’s main isolation facilities.

For months, the 29-year-old was only being called in when orderlies were either on vacation or sick leave. Then the country recorded its first COVID-19 cases in March 2020, resulting in an opening for new healthcare workers, but under the most trying and uncertain conditions.

This was the opportunity that Barnett had been waiting for.

In addition to a full-time job, the ambitious young man has been on the receiving end of the type of training that would prepare him for a career in infection control. As part of his job, Barnett was required to oversee the movement of patients, furniture and equipment, and set up temporary isolation facilities in highly infectious environments.

“COVID came in and I got some hands-on training because I didn’t know what COVID was, and the training helped me to understand what was really going on so I could step up and play my role,” Barnett told Barbados TODAY.

“At first it had me studying, because I live with my grandmother, but when I got the call and I explained to her what it’s going to be, she said ‘go ahead’, because it’s an opportunity, a door opened, and a way for me. So I took the opportunity and stepped with it one time.”

The young man recalled starting last April at the makeshift facility at the Blackman and Gollop Primary School, before working at the Harrison Point Isolation Centre, Savannah Hotel, Sunbay Hotel, Barbados Beach Club, as well as during outbreaks at the New Dawn Senior Citizens’ Home and the Psychiatric Hospital.

“Some of the most difficult experiences were trying to get the facilities organized…but we got hands-on help from the chairman of the Board of the [Queen Elizabeth] Hospital, Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland and the director of the facilities, Dr Corey Forde. We got more men to help with the oxygen, moving of patients and different other things that other people weren’t able to help with,” Barnett explained.

“Right now, there are not many cases but guys are still needed because you never know what might happen. One day there are a few cases and another day it might pop and we have a huge amount. So, we still have to be prepared for that.

The orderly supervisor is also keen on transferring the knowledge acquired over the last 14 months to work at the country’s main general hospital.
(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)