PNP WANTS TUFTON FIRED
Arguing that many of the 1,568 persons who have died from COVID19 in Jamaica could have been alive if the Government was managing the pandemic better, the parliamentary opposition said that it is high time Dr Christopher Tufton be separated from the health portfolio.
In a statement calling for the resignation of the minister, the People’s National Party (PNP) said the most recent oxygen shortage in health facilities was the last straw in the heap on mismanagement of the COVID crisis.
“It has been reported that a number of patients died over the weekend due to the lack of oxygen available at healthcare facilities,” the PNP said in its media release.
CRISIS WAS AVOIDABLE
“Nurses and doctors complained of having to ‘bag’ patients as young as newborns to aid their survival. This crisis was avoidable,” it added.
In medical terms, bagging refers to the process of manually supplying oxygen to the lungs. This was reportedly the method to which medical staff resorted this week when Nurse Diagrea Cunningham, 37, was fighting for her life at the Cornwall Regional Hospital. The nurse is reported to have only received medical-grade oxygen after another COVID patient died and she was able to get the remaining gas. Unfortunately, Cunningham died.
A staggering 368 COVID-19 deaths were recorded in August, 19 of which were reported on Thursday. A total of 85 COVID-19 deaths and 2,391 new cases were reported in the last five days of the month.
“The Government must take responsibility for the result of their mishandling of the pandemic. The minister of health must be held accountable for the poor management of the pandemic, which has caused the loss of life of scores of loved ones. Many of the lives lost over the weekend could have been prevented,” the PNP said.
According to the opposition, the health ministry’s inability to accurately forecast the country’s oxygen needs, diversify supply if necessary, and provide patients with the best possible chance of survival is a gross dereliction of duty.
It also said that the Government has ignored several recommendations to have fever clinics and institute home and early COVID management protocols, which has led to many Jamaicans being unable to access healthcare for non- COVID-19 conditions.
“We cannot continue to accept failure after failure at the detriment of our citizens,” the PNP said.
“The minister must resign. It is in the best interest of the country that Minister Tufton be removed from this portfolio for his repeated failures and inability to effectively perform the duties of his office. The people of Jamaica deserve better, they deserve a chance at life,” the opposition added.