Dear Editor,

With all the resource constraints and infrastructure challenges within the public health sector in Jamaica, it is not often that people pause to give kudos to our hard-working medical professionals.

A family member of mine fell ill over the weekend and I visited the accident and emergency (A&E) unit of the University Hospital of the West Indies for her to get medical attention.

I would like to big up the A&E emergency medical technicians/intake/registration/cashier team, clerical staff, porters, and janitors as well as A&E nurses White, Chambers, and Gause and doctors Morgan, Peart, and Bailey and the radiology team. They made me and my relative feel at ease as they worked tirelessly to get her better, even working beyond the end of their designated shifts.

There were delays in being treated due to the high demand and limited resources, but when attended to, the staff was professional, empathetic, and courteous. They routinely take verbal abuse from members of the public and remain unflappable. These are professionals who chose to stay in Jamaica and serve the country, despite more lucrative opportunities overseas. These patriotic Jamaicans are heroes.

Corporate Jamaica should get behind them and follow the example of Sagicor Foundation’s Sigma run that raises millions for them.

A&E team, we salute you!

Sharma Taylor

sharma.taylor@gmail.com