Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
( L - R ) BLAINE and CLARKE
BETTY-ANN Blaine, convenor of advocacy group Hear The Children's Cry, has called for an urgent independent inquiry into the deaths of two children, in separate incidents, at the Glenhope Place of Safety. Mrs. Blaine's call comes against the background of last Friday's incident where a two-year-old died after ingesting medication that was not prescribed for him.
The child reportedly took the tablets from the tray of an attendant who was dispensing medication to sick children and gave them to seven others, telling them they were sweets.
But, according to Mrs. Blaine, the cir-cumstances under which the children died are unacceptable.
"... Quite frankly, that (the independent inquiry) would be in everybody's best interest, to make sure that an investigation is done and that this does not happen again," she said.
STAFF DISTRESSED
Seven other children from the home who ingested the medication were treated at hospital. The Gleaner reported yesterday that staff at the home had been alerted to the fact that something was wrong when three of the children lost consciousness.
On Good Friday, two-year-old Nathan Burton, reportedly died at the home when he suffocated in his vomit after an epileptic attack.
Yesterday, Children's Advocate, Mary Clarke, said that she visited the residence to commence investigations into the circumstances under which the children died.
Mrs. Clarke expressed sympathy to members of staff who appeared to be distressed about the situation.
She also made enquiries about the staffing situation at the home, and would be recommending counselling for the staff and children who had not been told of the latest death up to yesterday.
MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
She said she would await the results of the investigations by the police before deciding whether she would take further action.
Mrs. Blaine said the incident has again shed the light on the level of competency of persons who work at these institutions.
"How much training is being provided? These are questions that we have been asking for a very long time," she said.
According to her, the tragedy also highlights the need for more Jamaicans to volunteer to help out in these institutions.
"It is clear that our children need a lot more love and attention ... If more Jamaican volunteers work in these homes, perhaps these kind of things would not have happened," she said.
