…in aftermath of rape attack
The GPSU sent the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) a letter on Thursday setting a seventy-two hour ultimatum that further industrial action will be taken over dissatisfaction with management’s response since a registered nurse was raped while on duty on September 11.
This decision follows a meeting on Thursday of the union representatives and the affected nurses where it was concluded that the management of the LHC and the Ministry of Health (MOH) had failed to deal in a definitive manner with matters concerning the welfare of the two nurses who were attacked while on the night shift at the Upper Demerara Hospital at Blue Berry Hill, Wismar, when one was raped and her colleague made to look on.
The letter served to the LHC management also said: “We wish to state that despite promises which were made, nothing has been done to date. It was also reported that remarks which can be deemed as insulting and embarrassing were made by an official of the Ministry of Health, while they were attending a meeting with him…… this is an insult to the integrity of the nursing profession.”
In an interview with Stabroek News the nurse who was raped and robbed said that the management of the LHC and the Ministry of Health have compounded her stress rather than relieving it.
According to the nurse, following promises by the two bodies to ensure that she and her colleague would have access to professional counselling and consideration of options for a transfer, she visited an official at the ministry. “He sent me to check a number of possible facilities… I didn’t approve of any of the facilities because I couldn’t have my family with me.” She said the official then asked if she could furnish a house and “I told him I cannot because I am currently paying a mortgage.”
She said that at this point she felt her integrity was impugned when she was told “don’t use this incident to get land and house.” She said too that the official also refuted claims that they had promised to have her and her colleague receive professional counselling from an international body which was expected in the country.
The nurse said in another conversation with the CEO of the LHC, Gordon Gumbs, she was told that he could not have further dialogue with her because he had been informed that she was suing the government. “I never intended to sue the government over this matter, it is a fact that we were seeking legal advice but never to sue.”
However, the nurses through their lawyers Chapman and Trotman wrote to the Ministry of Health because they felt the authorities were tardy in handling the matter.
The lawyer’s letter addressed to Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy stated that the September 11, 2008 incident had left their clients justifiably traumatized and pondering their future.
Compensation
The nurses are now requesting compensation for the failure of the administration to provide a safe and secure working environment as required under the law. They are also requesting that leave granted to both of them be extended beyond the twenty-eight days as they have indicated that they are still unable to immediately resume duties. In addition, in the case of the nurse who was raped permission is being sought for her to take a short vacation outside of Guyana and for a stated sum to be provided to facilitate this.
The nurses’ lawyers had requested a meeting between the two parties on or before the 3rd of October, 2008.
The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) through Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo has also been an advocate for the nurses. In keeping with the terms of resumption which stated there would be meetings of the parties within four days of full resumption to discuss other issues of concern, the first meeting was held on 18th September, 2008 at the Regional Democratic Council boardroom.
At that meeting much focus was placed on the welfare of the two nurses and a special committee named the ‘Comfort Committee’ was formed. It comprised a representative from the LHC administration, the RHO of the RDC and representatives from the GPSU and individuals representing the nurses’ interests. The committee was required to deliberate on and recommend measures to be taken to ensure that the welfare of the affected nurses were addressed, including but not limited to issues of counselling and treatment for them in order to ensure that their lives could be returned to some semblance of normalcy.
On this account Mingo in the form of a letter requested the CEO of the LHC, Gumbs, to indicate when the recommendations of the ‘Comfort Committee’ would be addressed by the LHC.
In response Gumbs replied that the LHC had set up its own ‘comfort committee’ on the 12th September, 2008.
Gumbs noted in his letter that continuous moral support for the two nurses would be afforded besides medical treatment. In addition, the two victims of the attack would get specialist attention in the form of counselling.
There are also offers, Gumbs stated, to transfer both nurses to work in a public sector hospital outside of Region 10, without loss or prejudice to their continued service.
He stated too that accommodation would be provided at a Nurses Hostel when they are transferred, and the health ministry’s Comfort Committee also discussed with the administration the need to grant special leave to enable the nurses to recover from the trauma of the attack by the bandits.
Gumbs stated further that three persons from the MOH were sent as emissaries to meet with the nurses at their homes on 12th September and to bring support to them. Moreover, travelling arrangements were made by providing money and engaging a taxi to take the nurses to and from Georgetown, whether for counselling, treatment or to see officials from the MOH.
Gumbs also stated in his letter that the Local Comfort Committee had been belatedly set up on September 18th, 2008. He also noted that arrangements for the voluntary transfer of the two nurses had been completed. The ministry made the offer with the aim of removing them from a stressful location to a more friendly one without loss or prejudice to their continued services.
“The Ministry is prepared to accommodate them at the new location for as long as the nurses consider this necessary. Should the nurses decide to return to Linden, however, the MOH will facilitate them to the maximum, including working with other Ministries such as the MOE,” Gumbs added.
