Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
“[…] Women are the ones most directly involved. They bear most of the physical and psychological trauma of parent/motherhood during pregnancy—unlike the male who has the option to opt out at any time.
“[…] Does this tragedy not expose the lack of attention given to a most vulnerable group charged by nature to keep the species going? […]”
The following Letter to the Editor, which urges women’s groups to lead the push for improvement at the country’s neonatal wards, was submitted to Wired868 by Rae Samuel of Balmain:
The tragedy that played out recently at the Port of Spain General Hospital (POSGH) neonatal wards is a stark reminder of yet another instance of institution failure.
In the midst of all the back and forth, the ritual braying by the cabinet, and the ongoing milking of the story by most of the dailies, it was pointed out that there is no statutory body with oversight for operations of these private facilities—as happens in education for example.
The matter is wending its way into obscurity except for those who are directly impacted: the medical staff and the parents. Already the matter has been pushed from the headlines by the imbroglio between the Auditor General and the Minister of Finance.
(Copyright Office of the Parliament 2022)
Any and all inquiries will go the way of the Paria tragedy and the shooting death of the migrant baby in the arms of its Venezuelan mother by the Coast guard.
Particularly to the deaths of the babies, I have noted and been asking many people where are the women’s movement in all of this?
Women are the ones most directly involved. They bear most of the physical and psychological trauma of parent/motherhood during pregnancy—unlike the male who has the option to opt out at any time.
Mao Ze Dong said that “women hold up half the sky”. In this case, it is more likely three quarters.
Where are the women’s groups who are so vocal on International Women’s Day, on the question of gender identity and gender bias? Does this tragedy not expose the lack of attention given to a most vulnerable group charged by nature to keep the species going?
In a conversation with one of the nurses’ representatives, I was told that any inquiry should focus also on the frequency of such occurrences.
Unless some organised entity takes up this issue, it will continue to happen even if on a smaller scale.
Years ago, some 13 inmates at St Ann’s psychiatric hospital died from food poisoning. No one was ever held accountable. After all they were “mad people”.
Our women and the nurses, who themselves might be parents, deserve protection and the best system of maternal care possible.
Who better to lead and organise around this matter than women’s groups?
“[…] A child is not a collection of bills to be divided equally without considering the circumstances of the parents Read more
Mrs M died last year. I remember the vegetables from her husband’s garden (including my first dragonfruit) and the delicacies Read more
Imagine her beside the hospital bed, handbag slipping off one shoulder, phone vibrating with messages from work. Her father is Read more
“[…] It’s not necessarily that I don’t like you—it’s just immensely discomforting to be up close and personal. “It feels Read more
The prescription for healthy living was flawless, if I do say so myself. Grilled fish, fresh vegetables, fruits bursting with Read more
Covid-19 was a masterclass in socioeconomic inequities but heatwaves have also ignited pervasive disparities in our society. The elderly, those Read more
Want to share your thoughts with Wired868? Email us at editor@wired868.com.
Please keep your letter between 300 to 600 words and be sure to read it over first for typos and punctuation.
We don’t publish anonymously unless there is a good reason, such as an obvious threat of harassment or job loss.
