Dr. Dawes Challenges Holness Over 24 Dead Babies At Jubilee. The scandal of the 24 babies who died at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica, in June, remains a hot topic in the news. It continues to make the rounds in the news cycle. Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr. Alfred Dawes, called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to take action against Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton.
The Health Ministry has confirmed the death of more than 24 babies in June. It states that this number exceeds the figures for earlier months. It also surpasses the same period last year. But ruled out an outbreak of any kind. Instead, citing complications related to prematurity and low birth weight.
Speaking at the People’s National Party’s (PNP) combined divisional conference in St. Andrew Southern on Saturday, June 28, Dr. Dawes referenced Holness’ own words during the 2015 “dead babies scandal.” During that time, Holness condemned the then-PNP administration. He also called for the resignation of Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson.
“It is the standards he set in 2015 that we must adhere to today,” Dr. Dawes stated. “So, in 2025, when 24 babies die in one hospital in less than a month without an outbreak, what does he have to say about any potential resignations now?”
Opposition Spokesman on Health, Dr. Alfred Dawes
Dr. Dawes urged Holness to clarify his position. The country is heading into the election. Dawes asked, “Is he a hypocrite or a coward?”
In 2015, 18 babies died across two hospitals during an outbreak over three months. This situation had significant political repercussions. It occurred ahead of the 2016 general election. Holness had called on the Health Minister to resign, making a spectacle of the situation.
“I hear the spirit of a little baby crying, asking, ‘Why didn’t the people keep the Jamaica Labor Party government in? If the Labor Party government was in, I would still be alive.’ I hear the spirits of the 18 babies that have died…”
Andrew Holness Jamaica’s Opposition Leader in 2015.
In 2015, Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson, who controversially claimed that the newborns were “not babies in the real sense,” was eventually reassigned.
To date, Holness has yet to comment publicly on the shocking number of dead babies at Jubilee Hospital.
Click the link to watch a video of Holness talking about the dead babies in 2015
Click the link to hear what a mother who lost her baby in 2015 had to say.
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