BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – Nurses in St. Kitts and Nevis “do not deserve the disrespect being dished out by” Health Minister the Hon. Eugene Hamilton and the Junior Minister of Health, Sen. the Hon. Wendy Phipps.
In a posting over the weekend, medical practitioner and internist, Dr. Terrance Drew, who has been highly critical of the deteriorating healthcare system in St. Kitts and Nevis, drew attention to the lucrative contracts given to foreign nurses by the PLP/CCM/PAM coalition government of Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris.
Dr. Drew who applauded “the priceless value of local health care workers” reaffirmed his support for the nurses without reservation and pointed out that the local nurses are well-trained and hard working.
“However, I do not negate the fact that there are a few ‘bad apples ‘ as in any organisation. Thus, let us not judge the profession by the few bad actors. The nurses here work under very difficult conditions,” said Dr. Drew, who added that the local Florence Nightingales “can be compared to nurses in Jamaica, the United States and Cuba, where he had direct contact with nurses.
“Our nurses are well rounded. They are asked to serve meals, make bed, give injections and respond to code blues. In other jurisdictions, this did not take place,” said Dr. Drew, who lamented that “on many occasions, there is one staff nurse (red belt) per ward to oversee many patients. They go above and beyond the call of duty to carry out this colossal task. They get tired and burnt out in the process,” he said.
“Their feet should be kissed for accepting these sometimes inhumane working conditions. It is like giving a carpenter a stone to pound nails and when the nails are crooked we call him a bad carpenter,” said Dr. Drew, who quickly pointed out that “quality suffers when people are not given the right tools.”
He said that instead of trying to help the nurses, the Ministers of Health, Hon. Eugene Hamilton and Hon. Wendy Phipps have declared war on the nurses.
“They have decided that they would push the local nurses to the breaking point and bring in nurses from far and wide,” said Dr. Drew, who stated clearly his respect for foreign nurses “as fellow health care workers and wish them all the best.”
Dr. Drew was however critical of a leaked document in which the Timothy Harris-led PLP/CCM/PAM Administration has given “very lucrative contracts with housing allowances of $500 per month, health insurance and a gratuity of 10 percent.” The monthly salary for 17 nurses from the Phillipines is EC$4,495 each.
“Our nurses are not treated so kindly. Additionally, they even make almost more than some doctors. This is a real disgrace,” said Dr. Drew, a St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) candidate in the 2015 general elections.
Dr. Drew added that while there has been a call to increase the pay of politicians, he is of the view that “healthcare workers should be given first preference.”
“I am of the view that there should be no raise of pay for politicians until these essential workers are treated fairly. Should Eugene Hamilton and Wendy Phipps be paid more to pressure our healthcare workers and deepen the incompetence that has affected healthcare delivery? I say no!,” said Dr. Drew, who praised the doctors and nurses.
“Keep working hard for our country and people. Please understand that better will come with the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party and a new caring, competent Minister of Health,” said the Cuba and US trained physician.
Photo 1 – Dr Terrance Drew
Photo 2 – File photo of local nurses at a church service
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