By George Henry, Gleaner WriterSPALDINGS, Manchester:
THE THREE Cuban nurses who are on contract at the Percy Junor Hospital in Spaldings, Manchester, are now back to full-time duties, following the stabbing of one member of the group at the nurses hostel on Independence Day.
The three who were assigned to the health institution some five months ago on a two-year contract withdrew from their duties on Wednesday when Nurse Lartiza Napolas was stabbed by a knife-wielding criminal, who went to the hostel and awakened her.
Believing that it was one of her colleagues, she opened the door to the hostel and was stabbed on her left hand by the knifeman.
Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner on Friday, Chief Executive Officer at the hospital, Stanhope Scott, said the three Cubans returned to work Thursday, following a meeting with the administration as well as representatives of the Southern Regional Health Authority offices in Mandeville.
According to the CEO, the nurses temporarily withdrew their services because of security fears.
However, he pointed out that things went back to normal following the meeting on Thursday, where plans relating to certain measures, including security were explained to the nurses.
Mr. Scott, who has been at the hospital for more than five years pointed out that it was the first that an incident of that nature had happened at the institution.
He noted that additional measures have been implemented, including the hiring of an additional security guard, who has been assigned specifically to the nurse's hostel.
Although not being able to mention other security measures that have been implemented at the hospital, Mr. Scott added that other measures which could be described as sensitive have been put in place and that others were to be implemented shortly.
Mr. Scott added that although the security measures have been implemented at the hospital, including more frequent patrols by the police, workers there would have to be more vigilant as well, in seeing to their own security.
