GRENADA NOMINATION FOR 2009 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000643

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR G/IWI AND WHA/CAR FROM AMBASSADOR OURISMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM XL
SUBJECT: GRENADA NOMINATION FOR 2009 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE
AWARD

REF: STATE 99729

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SUMMARY
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1. (U) I am pleased to nominate Dr. Beverly Theresa Nelson-La Qua,
of Grenada, for the Secretary's Award for International Women of
Courage for 2009 (biodata at end of cable). Dr. Nelson is unique in
Grenada for recognizing an unfilled need and then volunteering her
time to find a solution. She has singlehandedly improved health
care in Grenada for needy families, inspired local non-governmental
organizations to become more involved, and pushed the government to
improve medical facilities overall. Her work with a U.S. children's
health organization is in addition to her regular pediatric
practice. There has been little local recognition of the importance
of Dr. Nelson's efforts to improve health care for needy women and
children in Grenada. End summary.


2. (U) Dr. Nelson trained in the United States but shortly after
completing her residency at Brooklyn Caledonian Hospital in New
York, she returned to her native Grenada to work. She is one of
only two pediatricians in the country. Dr. Nelson is an attending
physician at Grenada's General Hospital and has undertaken to build
up the pediatric ward, including obtaining equipment for premature
babies.


3. (U) In 1989, Dr. Nelson enlisted the help of Children's Health
Organization Relief and Educational Services (CHORES),based in
Jacksonville, Florida to address the pressing problem of pediatric
care for needy families, especially for cardiac patients and
premature births. In addition to cardiac care, the group has
expanded to include orthopedics, ophthalmology, plastic surgery,
speech therapy/audiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy.
Grenadians have been trained to produce and maintain prosthetic
limbs. Dr. Nelson has engaged the Grenadian community to create a
support group for the visiting doctors who donate their time for a
week two times a year.


4. (U) Once invited to come to Grenada, CHORES' volunteer doctors
have been coming to Grenada for 19 years. Of the 5844 patients Dr.
Nelson has arranged for them to see in that timeframe, over 60
percent are female. In the process of reaching out to poor families
with children in desperate need of care not available any other way,
Dr. Nelson has pulled a large number of needy women, mothers of the
pediatric patients, into Grenada's health care system. Women, who
never otherwise would have never seen a doctor, have been introduced
to health care. Her "whole family" approach has meant that these
women, who would not otherwise have received medical attention
themselves or learned how to care for their children, are now doing
both.


5. (U) BIODATA

Full legal name: Dr. Beverly Theresa Nelson-La Qua
Job Title/Association: Pediatrician, Grenada General Hospital and
private practice
Date of birth: August 2, 1959
Country of birth: Grenada
Citizenship: U.S.
Address, telephone, e-mail: St. John's Street, St. George, Grenada,
W.I.
473-440-3916, beverley@spiceisle.com
Passport number: 710503304

Dr. Nelson has been contacted about this nomination and is willing
to be recognized.

OURISMAN