Dear Editor,
I saw on the news recently Portia Simpson Miller defending the stewardship of embattled Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson. Unfortunately, the prime minister — probably out of touch with reality and also keen on propping up her failing ministers -- is focused more on the survival of her unpopular government than anything else.
Dr Ferguson, in my book, is the worst minister of health this country has ever seen. He sat and watched as the chikungunya outbreak devastated the Jamaican populace, despite repeated warnings from ordinary folk and experts alike in addition to a two-year heads-up from the Pan American Health Organisation.
And, as the virus raged in his own St Thomas constituency, the minister arrogantly put down and bashed critics, including his political opponent, who begged for the health ministry to get on top of the epidemic.
And while the chikungunya-related complications have left several Jamaicans dead and many more with pain, the public health system has all but collapsed under the weight of a lack of resources, poor leadership in the policy and technical areas.
We have seen where Victoria Jubilee Hospital reportedly ran out of water, University Hospital of the West Indies' canteen closed after being overrun with roaches, operating theatres shut down because of failing air-conditioning systems, three-year wait times for surgery at the Kingston Public Hospital, St Ann's Bay Hospital having food shortages for patients, and May Pen Hospital out of bed space. Let us not even talk about the equipment and staff concerns.
Madam Prime Minister, please don't celebrate failure.
Dr Kerry-Ann Foster
Miramar, Florida
kerryfoster18@gmail.com
PM needs a shot of reality about health
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I saw on the news recently Portia Simpson Miller defending the stewardship of embattled Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson. Unfortunately, the prime minister — probably out of touch with reality and also keen on propping up her failing ministers -- is focused more on the survival of her unpopular government than anything else.
Dr Ferguson, in my book, is the worst minister of health this country has ever seen. He sat and watched as the chikungunya outbreak devastated the Jamaican populace, despite repeated warnings from ordinary folk and experts alike in addition to a two-year heads-up from the Pan American Health Organisation.
And, as the virus raged in his own St Thomas constituency, the minister arrogantly put down and bashed critics, including his political opponent, who begged for the health ministry to get on top of the epidemic.
And while the chikungunya-related complications have left several Jamaicans dead and many more with pain, the public health system has all but collapsed under the weight of a lack of resources, poor leadership in the policy and technical areas.
We have seen where Victoria Jubilee Hospital reportedly ran out of water, University Hospital of the West Indies' canteen closed after being overrun with roaches, operating theatres shut down because of failing air-conditioning systems, three-year wait times for surgery at the Kingston Public Hospital, St Ann's Bay Hospital having food shortages for patients, and May Pen Hospital out of bed space. Let us not even talk about the equipment and staff concerns.
Madam Prime Minister, please don't celebrate failure.
Dr Kerry-Ann Foster
Miramar, Florida
kerryfoster18@gmail.com
PM needs a shot of reality about health
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