Nurses still pushing for improved health sector
Published:Monday | July 18, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Patrina Pink, Gleaner Writer
Despite her organisation's acceptance of the Government's seven per cent wage proposal to public-sector workers, Nurses' Association of Jamaica (NAJ) President Anthonette Patterson is declaring she will not be entering an era of complacency and that the NAJ will not lose the momentum gained from years of demonstration.
Patterson, speaking at the launch of the Lasco-funded National Nurses' Week at the Church of God of Prophecy in St Catherine, yesterday, made recommendations for Government in tackling the challenges facing the health sector.
"(The Government must) revisit the Budget allocation to health and, by extension, the dollar value to the nursing sector," Patterson demanded, as she pointed to the inadequacies present in health-care facilities.
"We seek clarification from the Government on the way forward for nursing in our beloved country and solicit answers as to what plans are in place to address the issues affecting the nursing community," she added.
Archaic conditions
Patterson listed "archaic" working conditions, as well as a failure to provide basic supplies as "impacting negatively on health care".
The theme of Nurses' Week, 'Closing the gap: Increasing Access and Equity', appeared to have a profound impact on the the church's bishop, Junior Headlam. Headlam's sermon praised the selflessness of the nurses and tore at the inequities present in the Jamaican society.
"When those who are the architects of our economy ... are sick, they fly away. When we are sick, we go to the hospital to sit on wooden benches," preached Headlam to the delight of the congregation. "Sometimes we sit there from night to morning and if we are lucky, we will see a nurse who has just come off her second shift who may have a little strength to help us."
Headlam refused to accept the view that local medicine was for 'regular' Jamaicans and that politicians and other individuals of influence should be entitled to superior care.
"What is good for the goose is good for the gander. It is this kind of disparity that we continue to promote, which is why we do not have stability in this nation," he said.
The NAJ will continue its celebrations with a fair later this week.