Published 3 August 2021
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
PM Harris brings cheer on Caribbean Emancipation Day to patients at JNF Hospital
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, August 2, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris makes frequent and unannounced visits to patients warded at the Joseph Nathaniel France (JNF) General Hospital to comfort, encourage and bring joy to them.
Sunday August 1, which was celebrated as Caribbean Emancipation Day, saw Prime Minister Harris return to the JNF General Hospital after a few days’ hiatus that had been occasioned by the extended period of lockdown the country recently went through.
The Honourable Prime Minister who had earlier in the morning worshipped at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Lemon Hill, Bourryeau, travelled to Basseterre after the church service accompanied by friends and well-wishers of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP), and at the JNF General Hospital he made surprise calls on patients warded at the medical, general, private, paediatric and maternity wards.
“This is the day that our brothers and sisters in the wider Caribbean are celebrating Emancipation Day which marked the end of slavery,” observed Dr Harris. “While emancipation is about our freedom, today we have to think of those of us who are not enjoying that freedom because of illness.”
In the wards, where he was taken round by Assistant Nurse Manager Amorose Francis, Prime Minister Harris met some people he personally knew and they exchanged jokes as he told them that they looked ready to go home. For those he did not know personally he introduced himself by telling them, “I am Dr Timothy Harris.”
That introduction brought wide smiles on the faces of the patients who of course knew that he was not a medical doctor, but was their Prime Minister who had taken time to come and to encourage them as they received the best medical care that could be offered anywhere in the world.
The patients were thankful that the Prime Minister not only listened to how they are doing as they travel on the road to recovery, but he also gave them a listening ear as some raised personal issues with him which he promised would be addressed after he would have asked for their contact.
“We have a lot to be thankful for, as illness is temporary and with the good care they are receiving from our healthcare professionals, they will soon be out from the hospital to continue enjoying the freedom their forefathers fought and died for, and return to their usual nation building activities,” said Prime Minister Harris.
It did not escape Dr Harris’ eye that there were more empty beds than those that were occupied, to which he remarked: “We thank God that our people in St. Kitts and Nevis continue to lead healthy lives, and those who unfortunately fall ill have well-trained healthcare professionals who take care of them to a level where hospitalisation is avoided. But when it unfortunately happens, they receive the best professional medical care which results in hospital stay being reduced significantly.”
Prime Minister Harris, in suit, pictured outside the Joseph Nathaniel France General Hospital with well-wishers who had accompanied him on the hospital visit on Sunday August 1.
