Dear Editor,
As a prominent member of the medical/pharmaceutical fraternity nationally, I must register my disdain at the highly insensitive remark made by Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson, recently, in reference to prematurely born babies, this within the context of the #deadbabiesscandal which now grips the country.
In my professional capacity I am in contact daily with relatives and other loved ones of both mothers and their young ones, whose well-being are of such intense all-round concern, only to be so savagely assaulted by Dr Ferguson's nonsensical statement; apology notwithstanding.
Indeed, the matter of the unhealthy hospital conditions that fostered the outbreaks that produced the 19 deaths among the premature babies perhaps warrants more attention. Lack of resources, inadequate protective systems, mechanisms, and attention to detail are only some of the necessary areas of focus.
Make no bones about it, though, the future will require a higher level leadership to streamline the level of focus necessary to minimise the chances of any repeat of the dead babies' scenario. But from all indications, the prime minister, who has stood firmly in support of Dr Ferguson in the past, is not seemingly inclined to step out so decisively for him this time around. So it is really a gamble, at long odds too, that the health ministry will get the necessary leadership.
For the sake of the sector to which I have devoted my entire professional life, I hope against hope that they do get it right, as I, like most other Jamaicans, continue to grapple with the mental anguish of the state of affairs.
Dr Norman Dunn
Jamaica Labour Party caretaker
St Mary South Eastern
Health sector needs better leadership
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As a prominent member of the medical/pharmaceutical fraternity nationally, I must register my disdain at the highly insensitive remark made by Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson, recently, in reference to prematurely born babies, this within the context of the #deadbabiesscandal which now grips the country.
In my professional capacity I am in contact daily with relatives and other loved ones of both mothers and their young ones, whose well-being are of such intense all-round concern, only to be so savagely assaulted by Dr Ferguson's nonsensical statement; apology notwithstanding.
Indeed, the matter of the unhealthy hospital conditions that fostered the outbreaks that produced the 19 deaths among the premature babies perhaps warrants more attention. Lack of resources, inadequate protective systems, mechanisms, and attention to detail are only some of the necessary areas of focus.
Make no bones about it, though, the future will require a higher level leadership to streamline the level of focus necessary to minimise the chances of any repeat of the dead babies' scenario. But from all indications, the prime minister, who has stood firmly in support of Dr Ferguson in the past, is not seemingly inclined to step out so decisively for him this time around. So it is really a gamble, at long odds too, that the health ministry will get the necessary leadership.
For the sake of the sector to which I have devoted my entire professional life, I hope against hope that they do get it right, as I, like most other Jamaicans, continue to grapple with the mental anguish of the state of affairs.
Dr Norman Dunn
Jamaica Labour Party caretaker
St Mary South Eastern
Health sector needs better leadership
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