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Bandits storm Wismar Hospital
– Nurses robbed, one sexually assaulted
Bandits, in the wee hours of yesterday morning, stormed the Wismar Hospital Complex at Blue Berry Hill, where they attacked and robbed two nurses of their jewellery, cell phones, a watch and a portable DVD player.
During the robbery, one of the nurses was sexually assaulted.
Reports indicate that at around 01:15 hrs, two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, confronted the two nurses who were on duty at the time in the casualty ward of the hospital, where they robbed them and then made good their escape. Following the incident yesterday, the hospital was deserted, as no staff member reported for duty.
The deserted Wismar Hospital
Later in the day, nurses from the mining town showed their solidarity to their colleagues and staged a protest at the Mackenzie Hospital.
Hospital Administrator Gordon Gumbs has since indicated that the hospital will be looking at ways of enhancing security at both the Wismar and Mackenzie Hospitals.
The nurses have vowed not to return to work until proper security measures have been put in place and until they feel safe.
In the wake of this incident, the problem of poor lighting in the hospital’s compound has been raised.
This newspaper has been informed too that most times only one or two nurses report for duty in the nights. The issue of the almost dilapidated fence has also come to the forefront. Meanwhile, in the interim, the hospital’s administration has announced that there would be no night duty for staff members until the situation is brought under control.
When asked to comment on what security measures have since been put in place at the hospital, Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran said that a joint investigation has already commenced with a view of determining how security at the medical institution can be enhanced.
The investigation, he said, is being undertaken by Regional Executive Officer, Henry Rodney, leaders of the community and the hospital’s administration.
He disclosed that meetings have been engaged in this regard and all stakeholders concerned have so far been very supportive and thus are working very closely towards the common goal of preventing a recurrence. Minister Ramsaran further pointed out that at the time of the incident, there were security guards present at the facility but noted that efforts will be made to determine the weaknesses of the system in order to improve it.
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