Healthcare workers who died during pandemic honoured

A new monument was unveiled on Monday at the National Chest Hospital in St Andrew, a symbol of the bravery and dedication of healthcare workers who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nearly 10-foot-tall structure, which is made of concrete and steel, will serve as a lasting tribute to the men and women who risked their lives to save others amid the uncertainty of the global health crisis. Speaking at the unveiling of the Healthcare Workers Monument, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness said the monument is not merely a structure of stone and metal.

"It represents the courage, dedication and sacrifice of the healthcare workers who stood on the front lines during one of the most challenging periods in our nation's recent history," he said.

"When COVID-19 reached our shores ... it was our doctors, nurses, patient care assistants, hospital attendants, technicians, support staff and other healthcare professionals who rose to the occasion. In the face of overwhelming odds, that is, the most devastating pandemic, they stood firm on the frontline of defence and did not falter. They put their duty above their fears, their patients above their own well-being and in doing so saved countless lives," he added.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, emphasised the importance of remembering the healthcare heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. He noted that, "this monument... stands as an enduring symbol of their dedication but also of their bravery in service to the people of Jamaica".

The monument features gold plates etched with the names of the fallen heroes, mounted on porcelain tiles. It honours a wide range of healthcare professionals, who worked tirelessly during the pandemic, from doctors and nurses to patient care assistants, cooks, midwives, and mental health officers. Each name represents a life of selfless service and ultimate sacrifice.

"The experience of COVID-19 was at once terrifying and uncertain. Yet, these men and women, our healthcare heroes, all put their lives on the line, pushing through the fear and through the uncertainty to preserve health and to save the lives of others," Tufton continued.

He noted that as the monument stands tall, its message is clear; these heroes may be gone, but their legacy endures in the lives they saved and the inspiration they left behind.

"To their loved ones here today, there are no words to fill the void that they have left behind. I trust, however, that you know that while your loved ones, our colleagues, may be gone, they will never be forgotten... . Their legacy endures ... in the memories of the moments shared on and off the job," the minister said. He added that the monument is not merely a tribute.

"This near 10-feet tall monument ... is also a promise to continue to honour the sacrifice of our healthcare heroes by building stronger healthcare systems and continuing to support those who serve on the front lines," said the health minister.

"I trust that it can be a place where the heroes we lost are always remembered, and their sacrifice honoured," he added.