THE EDITOR, Sir:

I WRITE regarding the article 'Nurses seek apology ...' published in the Saturday, August 8, issue of The Gleaner.

I find this article disturbing as to the motive of Mrs Allwood-Anderson. The article stated that she had given the go-ahead for practical nurses to cease duties at our port of entry. Her actions seem rather spiteful and selfish as health-care workers are to protect the health of the nation.

Health not a priority

I would like to know in all of this, where is the caring attitude of Mrs Allwood-Anderson and her workers, as the profession is a caring one. From all indications, it would seem that the health of our brothers and sisters is not a priority to the Nurses' Association of Jamaica (NAJ) and Mrs Allwood-Anderson; it seems she has lost focus.

On the other hand, we know that malaria in Jamaica is not eradicated, but, at present, is under control. This she is fully aware of, as we are not seeing the high incidence as in 2006-2007. For this, we are grateful to all workers. Yet, the present behaviour of the NAJ president leads me to question if nurses prefer to have more cases so they get more work to get more pay, or, rather, that the whole citizenry die leaving them without a job? Either way would be senseless!

Please, Mrs Anderson, the militancy of which you pride yourself is nothing but a 'block-road and burn-tyre mentality'!

I am, etc.,

Val Mac

vj0963@msn.com