The current Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has come under increased scrutiny over the last several days concerning information that the media brought to the limelight about newborns at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital.

I have been keeping a close eye on this matter and how it has progressed, though I did not feel comfortable writing about it until I knew more. Well, now I do, and I have much that I wish to say. So I suggest all reading this sit back, get a cool glass of water, and put their thinking caps on because this is going to be an introspective one.

Now let us start with the facts. Nationwide News Network (NNN) broke the story, having gained information on the apparent deaths of several babies at Victoria Jubilee Hospital, which is specifically designed to cater to maternity patients, the largest such institution in the entire English-speaking Caribbean.

Tufton, in speaking about the issue, explained that from July a bacteria particularly dangerous to infants had been spreading throughout the maternity hospital, and by October it infected some 30 children and took the lives of 12 of that number, representing a 40 per cent fatality rate.

Before we go further, we have to address an unfortunate truth. The first of which is that babies are naturally some of the most vulnerable human beings out there. They have just left the protection of their mother’s womb and now have to fend for themselves. At this very early and tender stage, their bodies are still adjusting to this fact. It is for this reason that we have developed one of the most robust and capable sectors of health to revolve around the birthing process and the immediate aftermath.

However, in spite of these advancements, infants are still, and will always be, at a much greater risk than the average healthy human being. This means that, even with the best care, what may be a minor inconvenience to us can be death for them.

I have no doubt that the staff of the hospital did all they could to protect the lives of those children. We cannot blame Tufton for that as it was largely out of his power. There is, however, one thing we can call him out on and it is major. This bacteria started spreading in July, presumably towards the end of that month. The minister claims that he only found out about it in August. And yet, for almost three months, he kept that information from the public. Now I am going to make it clear. As a public official in charge of one of the most vital public ministries, it goes without saying that Tufton is not only accountable to himself and his party, but the public at large. This means that it is his duty to provide us with information that can help us better avoid any potential threats healthwise.

He didn’t tell the public in August or September and the issue was not brought to the public’s attention until October. While this was heinous, in my opinion, I am going to play the devil’s advocate. Despite Tufton refusing to share what he knew with the public, it does seem clear that he acted quickly and decisively in regards to the actual threat. He is confirmed to have contacted the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) for more details on the deadly bacteria and acted independently to seal off the danger and prevent its spread. As minister of health he did the most important part of his job: limit the danger to lives. What he did wrong was not share this information.

Honestly, that is probably the fault of the political system under which we live. Any time a politician releases some negative information, it can be detrimental. Tufton has repeatedly stated that this is nothing like the “Dead Babies Scandal” that took down the People’s National Party’s Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson in 2016. I think his fear was that, with the incidents being so similar in nature, no matter how much he denies it, he could face a similar fate.

Dr Ferguson went down not for his actions during the crisis, but mainly his wording. Nobody can dehumanise babies — who probably have more humanity than many adults — and get away with it. It was also an election year. Keeping Fenton around would not have served well the Portia Simpson Miller-led Administration. Tufton, even for his mistake, has not dehumanised the babies and he does not have to worry about the political ramifications as much.

He handled himself well during the height of the novel coronavirus pandemic, and the Opposition is in shambles right now. Dr Morais Guy should focus just as much on the health of his own party as he does on the actions of Tufton, if you ask me. But we will get back to him in a moment.

Tufton made the mistake of underestimating the Jamaican people. We are an unruly set of individuals, yes. But in times of struggle we are capable of banding together. Tufton, of all people, should have known this. Where was the Tufton who was brave enough to make clear the danger of the novel coronavirus, who stated that hospitals were running out of oxygen and that doctors and nurses were completely overwhelmed. Where was that Tufton this time?

I have already made clear that I think his response to the matter itself was adequate, and only his dilly-dallying to inform the people was wrong. I don’t think that warrants a removal. Definitely a public apology, though. Tufton is only digging a grave for himself by continuing to stubbornly defend his actions. A good politician defends himself to the end, even when he is wrong. A good man accepts his mistakes and seeks atonement.

Guy has been ramming this point home, and I am in agreement with him there. However, he has made the mistake of politicising the babies’ deaths, and I am personally disgusted by that. We have had no reason to believe Tufton is incapable of halting the spread of infectious bacteria, and while it is always good to ask questions, there is a difference between questioning and insinuating. He, and by extension his party, are so desperate to make any headway that this is what they resort to.

In fairness, the Jamaica Labour Party did the same to Ferguson. That is the way of politics. However, what we clearly need is accountability, not grandstanding. This goes both ways. Tufton must come clean, and if Guy truly wants his party to move forward, they need to check themselves more than anything else at this moment.

In conclusion, this new dead babies scandal is being blown out of proprtion for political reasons, and both sides in the House of Representatives need to look inward and go back to running the country instead of fighting over spilt milk.

The past is the past. It needs to be acknowledged, but not dwelt upon. There is a country to govern. There are people to serve. And there are more important things to do.

nathanandrewroper@gmail.com