Young nurse leads charges against abuse

As a young nurse, Abigail James has witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of gender-based violence in emergency rooms and clinics. Upon being crowned the 2024/25 Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ)/LASCO Chin Foundation Nurse of the Year, she decided on her platform to advocate against violence targeting women and children.

Her fight has been shaped by several factors, including the tragic murder of fellow nurse Ophelia Wollaston in 2017.

Wollaston, who worked at the St Ann's Bay Regional Hospital in St Ann, was gunned down by her ex-boyfriend, Alvan Chatrie, just moments after reporting him to the police for issuing threats. Chatrie, a security guard and former soldier, refused to accept the end of their relationship.

Chatrie was convicted of murder and sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment. He died while serving his time in 2020.

"Her death was a wake-up call," James told THE WEEKEND STAR. "Though I was a young nurse, completing nursing school in 2016, it reminded me that sometimes violence doesn't always come raggedy; sometimes violence is well-dressed and well-spoken."

Determined to raise her voice against violence targeting women and children, James spearheaded the NAJ's Stop Violence Against Women and Children march in Black River, St Elizabeth, last Tuesday. The event, held in observance of the global Orange Day Initiative, was more than a demonstration--it was a rallying cry. Nurses, law enforcement officers, advocacy groups, and community members joined forces, marching from the Black River Health Centre to Independence Park. At the park, representatives from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and The University of the West Indies led discussions on domestic violence awareness and prevention.

"Violence against women and children is a crisis in Jamaica; it's a crisis in the world. As a nurse, I have seen the devastating physical and emotional toll it takes on victims," James said.

Statistics paint a grim picture. A 2022 Caribbean Policy Research Institute report further revealed that 28 per cent of Jamaican women experience direct gender-based violence in their lifetime, while seven per cent reported abuse from an intimate partner within the past year. The issue extends beyond physical harm to include sexual harassment, stalking, financial manipulation, and coercive control.

James acknowledges that one march won't single-handedly end the crisis, but she believes in the power of collective action.

"Violence thrives in silence. When people come together, it sends a powerful message that abuse will not be tolerated," she said.

Her advocacy doesn't end with the march. The NAJ, in partnership with the JCF and the Lasco Chin Foundation, is committed to sustained efforts. James stresses that education is key to breaking the cycle of violence and shifting harmful cultural attitudes.

"Education is key to success, and sometimes just because we don't know, we don't know what to do or how to respond," she noted. "With consistent advocacy, we can break down resistance and push for real change," she said.