Hospital worker saddened by child victims

When a staff member at the Bustamante Hospital for Children (BHC) saw two minors with gunshot wounds being wheeled into the emergency room on Tuesday night, chills ran down her spine.

Speaking with THE STAR yesterday, she recalled how one of the little victims kept a brave face as she was taken from the ambulance.

"One of the minors got a shot in her hand but it fly through and she was really brave. She wasn't crying or anything but I know she must be really traumatised because I am traumatised by just seeing her so small and innocent and had to be going through this. It pain my heart and I said a little prayer in my heart for her and the others," she said.

The children are two of six persons who were shot in a drive-by in Central Kingston on Tuesday night. Reports are that at 8:50, a white car drove onto Text Lane and turned onto Charles Street, where the occupants opened fire at a group of persons. The injured were assisted to the hospital.

The non-medical staff member, who work at the BHC's emergency section occasionally, raised concerns about the safety of the nation's minors and urged their attackers to cease fire.

"They are kids and they are innocent and whenever I see a child come in with violent wounds, I just automatically start to think about my children. This could have happened to anyone's child. Our kids are not safe any more and no parent should have to take their child to the hospital because they were violently attacked. We all need this to stop," the woman said.

The staff member, who has been working at the health facility for a few years, said she often visits the trauma ward just to check on the little patients and assist where she can.

"Sometimes I just stop and talk with the parents and give little words of comfort, or I would go to the ward and see how they are doing and what I can do to help. At this time I am just wishing everyone a speedy recovery," she said.