Letter of the Day | When will Jamaica get its own burn unit?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing to voice my concern on the lack of burn treatment facilities in Jamaica. Over the past few months we have seen that there have been some ordeals where our children have unfortunately been burn victims.

On June 16 a 14-year-old Black River High School student was preparing breakfast for school when the gas cylinder exploded and caused her to receive some major burns. She was then admitted to hospital where she was receiving treatment; however, because of the severity of the burns the healthcare facility did not have the proper care that this child needed. Funds were raised and she was then airlifted to a healthcare facility in the United States where she underwent several surgeries and received the treatment.

On August 19, a 17-year-old girl who was doused with a flammable substance by someone, who was presumably her ex-boyfriend, who set her on fire in her sleep. She was admitted to a private hospital, but due to the extent of her burns 60 per cent of her body was mutilated. Since there were no proper facilities to provide treatment she needed she too had to be transferred to the United States also to receive treatment.

I must say the act that was committed against this girl was a wicked act; but let’s not stray from the point that our country is in dire need of a burn unit to treat such cases. If there were a burn unit in the hospitals these children could be treated here. Thank God for the organisations who are willing to assist the burn victims and to raise funds to send them overseas for proper treatment and speedy recovery.

It is important that in the near future Jamaica should have a burn unit on the island.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS