Dear Editor,

Finally someone has decided to say something about that horrible treartment at Jubilee hospital. Horrible not because of the building, but because of what patients endure there at the hands of workers. Apparently former patients have finally decided to speak out about the atrocities perpetrated on poor Jamaican women.

The present minister of health has, not surprisingly, ordered an investigation. My response is “don’t hold your breath”.

For those who would accuse me of cynicism, let me ask, why would a country whose leaders tolerate the indiscriminate slaughtering of its citizens by the police at a rate that attracts international condemnation, concern itself with another set of persons from the same socioeconomic group?

There is a ‘fool-fool’ notion that has taken hold of this society that politicians love us. This despite the fact that they show absolutely no proof; and yet they are barefaced enough to tell us that they do.

I have a personal interest in hearing the political response to this Jubilee matter. Several years ago, a former gardener called me at 1:30 am to say that his girlfriend was going into labour. I took them to Jubilee as requested. As I approached the gate I remembered that it was the third time as they had taken me out of bed for two previous false alarms. So I decided to turn back and wait for her to be admitted.

As I entered the building, I heard a loud, expletive-laden tirade. It turned out to be the woman at the Admissions Desk addressing my gardener and his pregnant partner — both with their heads held low in embarrassment. She repeated herself “….eeh? Mi seh wen di two a unu did a …. and him breed yu, unu neva know seh unu wuda need money ha di pickney?” I offered to pay for her and the clerk took a verbal swipe at me. To reveal that would make me the butt of several jokes for the rest of my life.

I am cynical because that experience disturbed me so much I wrote a newspaper article about it. That’s years ago, and absolutely nothing has changed. And it won’t because those that are directly affected have such low self-esteem, they give excuses like reprisals by workers as reasons why they won’t come forward.

What is happening to women at Jubilee can lead to a host of complications. The overwhelming majority of these women are obese, depressed, anaemic, hypertensive, diabetic, too young, smokers, drinkers and exposed to several other conditions that predispose them to complications in delivery. Many of these “Jubilee victims” suffer from complications for years because of their experience over those critical few days. I am sure that this is the reason many of our children are slow to achieve physical and cognitive milestones.

Child-bearing is the time when mother and foetus is at their most vulnerable. That the health ministry could allow them to be treated like hogs penned in some ‘inglorious spot’ is to plumb the depths of cruelty. And if you think they really love us, wait and see what happens.

Glenn Tucker

glenntucker2011@gmail.com