Dear Editor,
The health ministry has disclosed that 18 babies have died due to an infection at the University Hospital of the West Indies in St Andrew and the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James. It says the infections were caused by the klebsiella and serratia bacteria.
My research tells me that Klebsiella is a very common infection among newborns and is the number 1 killer of 'preemies' worldwide, so it not surprising that the 18 unfortunate deaths were all premature babies and weighing less than 2lbs. Nonetheless, we would rather not lose any.
I was made aware that at the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Cornwall Regional Hospital such infected babies identified to have a culture of sepsis were and continue to be isolated and barrier nursed, while given the requisite intensive care.
While I am baffled by the utter silence of the management of the two hospitals and the finger-pointing in the direction of the minister of health, I find even more appalling the level of hypocrisy that exists in our nation when an occurrence like this takes place. This is not time for political gains; Jamaicans have lost their young ones, and so for the Opposition and several affiliated groups to have been misleading the country with inaccurate information to gain political capital is just downright disgraceful.
The klebsiella and serratia bacteria are not and cannot be affiliated with any Government or political party, so I can't see how so much political emphasis is been placed on this unfortunate situation.
The actions of the Jamaica Labour Party in this regard continue to prove how desperate they are for political gain, even if they are to ride on the death of these babies.
On behalf of all Jamaicans, I call on the management of the two main hospitals to urgently fix these situations and let the country return to and focus on supporting reason and rid itself of the divisive, vindictive, and politically inspired witch-hunts we so love to play.
Steve Collins
steveyc312@gmail.com
Politicians didn't cause the infections
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The health ministry has disclosed that 18 babies have died due to an infection at the University Hospital of the West Indies in St Andrew and the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James. It says the infections were caused by the klebsiella and serratia bacteria.
My research tells me that Klebsiella is a very common infection among newborns and is the number 1 killer of 'preemies' worldwide, so it not surprising that the 18 unfortunate deaths were all premature babies and weighing less than 2lbs. Nonetheless, we would rather not lose any.
I was made aware that at the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Cornwall Regional Hospital such infected babies identified to have a culture of sepsis were and continue to be isolated and barrier nursed, while given the requisite intensive care.
While I am baffled by the utter silence of the management of the two hospitals and the finger-pointing in the direction of the minister of health, I find even more appalling the level of hypocrisy that exists in our nation when an occurrence like this takes place. This is not time for political gains; Jamaicans have lost their young ones, and so for the Opposition and several affiliated groups to have been misleading the country with inaccurate information to gain political capital is just downright disgraceful.
The klebsiella and serratia bacteria are not and cannot be affiliated with any Government or political party, so I can't see how so much political emphasis is been placed on this unfortunate situation.
The actions of the Jamaica Labour Party in this regard continue to prove how desperate they are for political gain, even if they are to ride on the death of these babies.
On behalf of all Jamaicans, I call on the management of the two main hospitals to urgently fix these situations and let the country return to and focus on supporting reason and rid itself of the divisive, vindictive, and politically inspired witch-hunts we so love to play.
Steve Collins
steveyc312@gmail.com
Politicians didn't cause the infections
-->