By Byron McDaniel, Gleaner WriterWALDERSTON, Manchester:
JENNIFER BROWN, the woman who was infected with the HIV/AIDS-virus from contaminated blood she received at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) two years ago, was buried in the family plot at Spring Grove in Manchester yesterday.
A thanksgiving service was held at the House of God Church, just a few metres from her home. Miss Brown, who would have been 25 years old on October 26, first sought medical attention at the Mandeville Regional Hospital in February 2002. She was transferred to the KPH, where she was inadvertently given HIV tainted blood while getting transfusions for a blood disorder, and discharged sometime after.
'Marsha', as Brown was affectionately called, was readmitted to the KPH on October 13, where she died three days later.
"You have to talk to an AIDS patient to feel their pain," said Sandra Morris, a friend of the deceased. She said that along with her illness while she was alive, Jennifer had to deal with a resentful community and distressed family members.
Jennifer leaves behind a five-year-old daughter Tamara, along with a large family.
After the former Porus High School headgirl and fashion designer was diagnosed with HIV, she became a confirmed Christian and was baptised on Good Friday last year. Said Mrs. Hermine Smith-Grant, a church missionary: "She was a pleasant, nice girl." The church was packed with mourners, including broadcaster Cliff Hughes of Nationwide, who paid tribute to the deceased. "On behalf of Jamaica, I am sorry," Mr. Hughes said. "We want to see that justice is done."
The Government had accepted liability for her infection and lawyers from both sides were working out a settlement when she died.
Haughton and Associates, the law firm representing Andrea and a 12-year-boy who was also allegedly infected by the virus while in hospital, was seeking a $34 million plus US$16,000 settlement for the woman.
