- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Dr. John Hall (left) shares a hearty joke with (from second left) Eward Seaga, Dr. Henry Lowe and Professor Errol Morrison during the launch of the book 'Kingston Public Hospital: The High Seat of Medicine in Jamaica' at Eden Gardens on Lady Musgrave Road in St., Andrew on Thursday night. At right, Dr. Hall signs a copy of the book while Anthony Mullings looks on.
Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
THINK OF The Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) and tales of gun battles and ghostly figures roaming the halls come to mind.
Throw in the horror stories of some patients and the KPH might be better known as a house on haunted hill than one of the leading hospitals in the Caribbean.
A new book hopes to accentuate the latter and dispel the former. Kingston Public Hospital: The High Seat of Medicine in Jamaica, which was launched at Eden Gardens on Lady Musgrave Road in St. Andrew on Thursday night, details the history of the hospital from its days on the corner of East and North streets to its present location.
The book, co-written by Dr. the Hon. John Hall, president of the Medical Association of Jamaica and the late Hon. Hector Wynter, paints a picture of a different KPH, one where the doctors and nurses are of the highest competence and the quality of health care second to none.
On the 14th of December 1776, the Kingston Public Hospital was opened, making it as old as United States Independence (but for us far more sacred). In its early days, the hospital cared for the English settlers, not the slaves. But the health care wasn't very good and the area surrounding the building was smelly and unbearable. How it became a renowned place of health care is all within the pages.
Greetings and shows of support were non-stop from various members of the society.
Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie considered the KPH "one of the most important monuments in the history and tradition of our city". He said he felt that any institution that contributed so much deserved the highest praise.
The highest praise came from Opposition Leader and MP for Western Kingston Edward Seaga. A keen historian himself, he noted how by 1788, maintenance had become a problem with filth and debris from the mortuary causing a heavy stench.
"But we are also told by this historical record that by the late 19th century KPH had earned international recognition and tributes from international visitors as one of the finest hospitals they had ever seen." Mr. Seaga recounted the cholera epidemic, the violence and the many strains placed on the hospital in its history but lauded the staff who continued to serve the people.
He noted that "Undoubtedly, the rigorous experiences of KPH have helped to mould the performance and record of the outstanding medical officers and supporting nursing staff which have successfully run KPH over the centuries."
Greetings were also shared from the Medical Laboratory of Jamaica, the Nurses' Association of Jamaica, Bank of Nova Scotia and the Ministry of Health. The book is published by Pelican Publishers and sells for $1,200.
