Innocent babies suffer
THE EDITOR: I am a lay person, a mother of four adult children and a grandmother of seven. My second child, now aged 24 and a graduate of UWI, was born three months prematurely. I therefore have a little more than a casual interest in the welfare of babies born prematurely. Recently, in a dispute over salaries and other working conditions, the druggists at the Mt Hope Medical Sciences Complex illegally withheld their labour, which included depriving the premature babies at the hospital of their "special nutritional formula." It was never reported whether any babies died as a result of this illegal action by the druggists. However I am of the opinion that in addition to other charges relative to engaging in strike action in an essential service, the druggists involved should have been held responsible for endangering the lives of these innocent babies. But I am only a housewife who many may say is not qualified to determine whether any long term damage was inflicted on these premature babies. Why are Dr Petronella Manning, Dr Shereen Kalloo, Dr Ashmeed Mohammed, Dr Earl Brewster, Dr Victor Wheeler, Dr Achong-Low, Dr David Bratt, who is also a regular and a popular newspaper columnist, and the many other obstetricians and gynaecologists who care for babies and advise on their nutrition, so silent on this important matter? I call on them to publicly express their respective opinions for the guidance and benefit of all citizens. In addition there has been no official release on this very important matter :The long term dangers, if any, to be caused by depriving premature babies of their nutritional formula:, by the normally very vocal Minister of Health. Why his silence? This collective silence is deafening and I look forward to their early responses. SELINA MOHAMMED Cunupia
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"Innocent babies suffer"