Dear Editor,

Thank you, Jamaica Observer. It is better to listen to and read from real people like Sam Nicholls and his wife, with real stories of their experience, than those politicians, organisation heads and apologists who want to hide the truth, soften the realities, or tell us outright lies. Jamaica, we have a problem!

Our problems are everywhere. Every sector of our society has a similar story, where facts on the ground do not mirror the official reports. Case in point here is the official word that drugs are available in the hospitals and their pharmacies, when the truth is that relatives are sent on panicked scavenger hunts and painful searching expeditions to find medicine for critical care.

This case of the Nicholls family sheds light on the ‘realness’ of the 18 babies that died from that infectious outbreak caused by bacteria. A lack of standards and practices were on show for all to see.

Then, if it is true that these deaths were initially minimised by saying that this was nothing to worry about because they were preemies, it shows a lack of compassion and, at best, a ‘dunceness’, naivety or insensitivity unbecoming of anyone in a position of authority.

That the responsible minister was unaware of the goings on for months suggests the minister is like a principal who stays in the office and does not walk the halls of her school. Blaming others for keeping him in the dark sounds to me like someone who repeatedly fails to take responsibility for actions that occur while his head is buried in the sand. It is unconscionable to hide from the press, dodge or pass on questions. If this is what passes for leadership in Jamaica these days, we must hang our heads in shame.

Every time there is an outbreak, we are told we have nothing to worry about until all hell breaks loose. All the talk about working to ensure effective government via oversight and government reform, what’s up with that? When hospitals use short cuts to save money at the expense of lives and hide critical information from the ministry, what role does government play?

I have never seen anyone fired; if anything I am now reading about at least one doctor being possibly blacklisted for speaking up about issues and shortcomings that would make any stakeholder cringe. The status quo prevails and most of the populace who can’t afford overseas care, suffer or die.

What is going to happen? Someone is now going to be given a hefty contract to tell us everything that Sam Nicholls has experienced and seen first-hand. Watch and see!

Sandra M Taylor Wiggan

Kingston 6

sandra_wiggan@yahoo.co.uk