WESTERN BUREAU History was created in the parish of Hanover, when 69-year-old retired public health nurse, Mavis Maud King was last Wednesday sworn in as the parish’s first female Custos.

She is the second woman to hold the position across the island, following on the heels of Carmen Stewart who was appointed Custos of St Andrew approximately eight years ago.

King was born in St. Catherine, but has resided in the western parish with her family for a number of years. Her husband is former member of Parliament for Eastern Hanover, Dr Aston King.

During the swearing in ceremony, which was conducted by Governor General Sir Howard Cooke, King was lauded for her work in the island’s health sector. Head of the Western Regional Health Authority, Dr. Sheila Campbell Forrester paid tribute to the new Custos and spoke glowingly of the contributions she has made to the sector over the years.

“Mrs King has had an illustrious career in the field of nursing as a staff nurse, midwife, health visitor, nursing tutor, examiner, and founder of the national nursing standards committee,” Dr Campbell Forrester said.

She added that since retirement, King has continued to work in the health field as Regional Research Nurse for the National Cancer Registry, while continuing to give invaluable service to the Western Regional Health Authority Board and the Hanover Parish Health Committee.

In her reply, Custos King expressed concern about what she described as the seemingly uncontrolled spread of HIV/AIDS, particularly among the country’s youth. She added that she would like to place the matter in the public domain for wider discussion.

“We can no longer push AIDS under the carpet and try to ignore it on the basis that it is a disease which affects only a certain segment of our society. Whatever are its origins, it is real, it is universal, it is deadly and it is spreading,” she said.