SCORES of nurses took to the streets across the island on Monday to protest against the vicious attack on one of their colleagues by a motorist on Mount Airy Road in St Andrew last Tuesday.

The viral video of the nurse being mercilessly pummelled by the man included a scene where he stepped on her head with a firearm in his hand while she was lying on the road.

The video sparked outrage across the island and resulted in the alleged attacker — identified by the police as businessman Robert “Andy” Bell — charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault at common law, possessing a firearm with intent to commit a first schedule offence, and possession of a firearm with intent to cause injuries.

Last Friday, Nurses Association of Jamaica President Dawn Marie Richards told the Jamaica Observer that nurses would stage protests to voice their concern about the attack on one of their own — and women and girls in general.

On Monday, the nurses made good on the threat with protests being reported in several sections of the island.

In the Corporate Area the biggest demonstration took place in downtown Kingston and Richards, during an interview with disc jockey Burgerman on Edge 105 FM, said the nurses were determined to make their voices heard to demand an end to violence against women and children.

“A lot of things have been happening in recent times to our women and our children, and we find it very disheartening,” said Richards.

“At this time, persons might think it’s a trigger reaction, but just to inform the public that the Nurses Association of Jamaica has, for the past 10 years, hosted a yearly walk in recognition of this issue. We ask that persons come out and support. No excuse for violence. It is not fair, the things that are happening to our women and our children,” Richards added.

She was joined by Claudette Clarke Waugh, president of the Enrolled Nurses Association, who confirmed that the attacked nurse is a member of her organisation.

“We come in support of our colleague because enough is enough,” declared Clarke Waugh.

“We are breaking the silence because for too long women and children have been subjects of abuse. Every year in our annual conference we join forces with the Bureau of Gender Affairs to present on breaking the silence against domestic violence. It is so unfortunate that one of our colleagues has become a victim of a heinous crime,” added Clarke Waugh.

She told Burgerman that the injured nurse is suffering from significant physical trauma, including difficulty raising her hands, swelling in her face, and persistent neck pain.

The protesting nurses were joined by Minister of Gender Affairs Olivia Grange, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, Government Senator Dr Saphire Longmore, and Opposition spokesman on health Dr Alfred Dawes.

According to Tufton, there needs to be greater respect and protection for front-line workers.

“What that nurse suffered last week should not have occurred,” declared Tufton.

“When you see somebody in uniform, one of our civil servants, being attacked, it is really an attack on society. They shouldn’t be attacked when they go to work or come from work. Their work saves our lives. We have to send a strong message that they should never be alone, and that the law should take its course,” added Tufton.

Dawes, a medial doctor, told Burgerman that he was out in solidarity with the attacked nurse as well as all women and children who have been the victims of violence.

“I think that we as a society, if we are serious about protecting those who are vulnerable, if we are serious about protecting or women and children, we have no choice but to do the right thing and come out in support of the nurses as they make the statement that enough is enough,” said Dawes.

“I owe a lot of my professional development to nurses and it just pains me to see one of my colleagues on the ground or being tossed in the air like that. We all have women in our families… and it could have been anyone of them,” added Dawes.