What use is an emergency number if it doesn’t work?
Published:Wednesday | May 2, 2018 | 5:16 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Gleaner columnist Patria Kaye Aarons wrote a column about her recent experience dialling 119 and other numbers when faced with an accident emergency, April 30, 2018, "119, I'm more confused". What was described, would leave any normal person numb. It was hard to read the sequence of events as described, much less believe it. We've all known about the state of health care in Jamaica, but to think that it could've been so difficult to get an ambulance to respond to an injured person, is really very frightening. What if there was an earthquake of the magnitude similar to what happened in neighbouring Haiti a few years ago? With all the wealth and prosperity we hear about and the rapid growth in tourism, are we saying if there is an emergency, one has to summon a taxi, charter a private ambulance service or rely on a passing motorist? What use is an emergency number, if they don't work or cannot adequately respond to an emergency? Are the persons taking the calls properly trained?
People pay taxes and expect a normal sense of security. I think it is time Jamaicans wake up, and stop accepting this type of nonsense as normal. Emergencies will happen, sometimes on a massive scale, when least expected. Where is our preparedness? I have always held the view that most deaths in public hospitals are probably due to lack of adequate and timely care. We must start holding those in charge fully accountable and stop re-electing them if they cannot function. I agree with Ms Aarons: clarity is needed urgently regarding the various emergency numbers and the types of emergency services available to the public.
P. Chin