THE EDITOR, Sir:HAVING HEARD of the death of Jennifer Brown, a young woman infected with HIV through the negligence of the state, and for whom they have accepted responsibility, I am appalled at the treatment meted out to her!
She was not able to access drugs in her own home town of Mandeville, but had to travel all the way to the University Hospital in Kingston. Even after her case was highlighted on a popular radio show, and the officials at the Ministry promised better for Miss Brown's case, she received no help! Now she has died, at the very institution at which she was first infected, without the Senior Medical Officer even being made aware that she was under the care of the state. She got no drugs for her HIV condition during her last days, her family was asked to go and procure some. If this is not a tale of incompetence, bureaucratic bungling and cruel indifference, I don't know what is!
In light of this, the person with ultimate responsibility, that is, the Minister of Health, should resign. Your Ministry's incompetence, the negligence and complete lack of concern for the value of the life of this young Jamaican woman which your Ministry infected with HIV has cost her the ultimate price, and has deprived her four-year-old child of a mother. Heads should roll, Mr. Minister, and that includes yours. You and your officials will only lose your jobs, this young woman has lost her life!
And what about the media, every media house should be asking tough questions of the Minister. They should be at this moment, putting together an exposé about the number of persons who have lost their lives or are living with severe handicaps or fatal illnesses because of the incompetence of the Ministry of Health. How many have been paid, and what suffering is being endured by persons waiting on money which the court has awarded them? This would be a very enlightening topic. Which media house will take on the challenge? It's time you started doing some real investigative reporting.
I am etc.,
VALERIE CARNEGIE
Spanish Town
