Paediatrician clarifies

August 23, 2002

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to clarify some comments that were stated to be made by myself in today's Royal Gazette. First and foremost, the community should be abundantly reassured by how well the Health Department and the local physicians' offices handled this single case of meningitis. There is no reason for alarm, and all children and adults who were at risk have received appropriate prophylactic antibiotics.

The Health Department and physicians need to be commended for how promptly and efficiently they handled this situation. As well, the pharmacists at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital need to be commended for remaining open six hours after their usual closing time to ensure that children that needed prophylaxis could receive their antibiotics. I would like to clarify that there are no "carriers of meningitis" in Bermuda. Meningitis most commonly occurs after a bacteria infects the blood stream which is called bacteremia. As quoted from Nelson's Textbook of Paediatrics, "Bacterial colonisation of the nasal passages with a potentially pathogenic bacteria is the usual source of bacteremia.

There may be prolonged carriage of the colonising organism without disease or more likely, rapid invasion following recent colonisation." Most people will carry some form of bacteria, either on our skin, in our nose or in other areas, but he does not equate with having a disease. It is not fully understood why a particular person will develop an invasive disease with one of these bacteria. However in the case of meningococcal disease this is exceptionally rare.

Of interest to the public, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently released data that showed that the incidence of Hemophilus Influenza B meningitis (the most common form of bacterial meningitis prior to the vaccine) has decreased by 99% since the introduction of the Hib vaccine.

It is hoped that similar reductions can occur with Pneumoccocal meningitis (the second most common form of bacterial meningitis) now that the Prevnar vaccine is being used routinely. A Meningococcal vaccine is available for type C Meningococcus in the UK where their incidence is higher than in North America (we see more cases of type B Meningococcus), but this may also be recommended by the AAP or Canadian Paediatric Society at some point.

In closing, I would again state that there is no reason for alarm after this single case of meningitis. Bermuda can be proud of the incredibly efficient manner in which this infection was managed. The Health Department (Nurse Lise Outerbridge in particular), the physician's offices, the hospital pharmacy all need to be commended.

DR. C. STEPHEN WEST

City of Hamilton

As low as one can go

August 26, 2002

What Stinks? A 91-year-old gentleman who has been confined to a bed in the hospital for months finds his only pleasure in reading the daily newspaper, which he is only able to accomplish with a large magnifying glass since his vision is very poor. Now someone has taken that one pleasure away from him by stealing his magnifier.

What stinks? That stinks!

JESUS LOVES YOU

Pembroke

Don't blame the victims

August 22, 2002

Dear Sir,

In response to the letter from Ernest M. DeCouto (not the former MP), I offer alternative ideas and suggestions about the issues and the remedies regarding woman abuse. Mr. DeCouto presents beliefs that are widely held by the community, i.e. that women who are the victims of violence are responsible for their own abuse.

This is called "blaming the victim" and is not tolerated for other types of crimes but appears to be acceptable if the sexual assault, abuse or murder victim is a woman. Woman abuse is not caused by alcohol or drug use.

Keep in mind that many people abuse drugs and alcohol and do not abuse women. Woman abuse is not about "drastic changes" in the last few years in Bermuda.

Woman abuse is not the result of the high cost of living or high rents or the stress that this engenders. Woman abuse is not new, it is a centuries old, world wide and time-honoured tradition. It is therefore inappropriate to blame 21st Century stress.

Mr. DeCouto has listed five guidelines for women and I present five alternative guidelines for men.

Find out more about a woman who is interested in you, honour and respect that;

Do not offer rides to women unless you know you can keep your mouth, hands, fists, weapons and penis under control;

If you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol you lose sound judgment and control;

If you are an abuser, get help (292-4366). It's not going to get any better; and

If your relationship is at an end don't be vindictive as this can have serious repercussions.

Police training may be helpful in defusing domestic violence, however, domestic violence is unacceptable and holding Police accountable is also inappropriate.

Self-defence is not a last resort; this suggests women should take whatever abuse and violence is directed towards them. Without self-defence, the consequences will be serious.

It is time we put the responsibility for woman abuse where it belongs, with the abuser, not the victim.

K.M. HARRIOTT

Warwick

The freedom to choose

August 22, 2002

Dear Sir,

I would like to answer "Curious in Pembroke's" questions regarding why Bermuda has two different types of license plates for cars and why TCD can't make a decision.

Well, Curious, the last time I checked, Bermuda was a free country and just like in other free societies, it's called freedom of choice. The freedom to choose to be like you or different.

VANITY LICENCE PLATE OWNER

Pembroke

The best place to be

August 20, 2002

Dear Sir,

Bermudian criminals enjoy a higher standard of living than law-abiding residents! Where else would you see a newspaper article about complaints that the illegal drugs that inmates are getting aren't the best quality? Where else can someone's right to vote denied to them because they have no place to live? How many persons cannot register to vote because they are staying with friends or family?

Has the ruling party kept that in mind whilst dealing with all the housing embarrassments and the critical need for affordable housing for Bermudians? There are Bermudians living here who cannot afford the luxury of going abroad to further their education, obtain impeccable qualifications, enhance their earning power and have the right to compete in the employment market.

It is totally unacceptable that Sharina Tuzo can be imprisoned for the death of a child in her care and during that time of imprisonment be allowed to obtain an education outside of prison at the Bermuda College in a caregiving field!

To add further insult to injury, the mother of the child whose death Sharina was partially responsible for had to discover this woman taking the same course with her? How dare this be possible?

I've joked for years that the best thing to be in Bermuda is a non-Bermudian!. Apparently, I'll have to amend that to.. an incarcerated criminal! I call upon those responsible for our laws and government to have a referendum regarding reinstitution of the death penalty. We were not given a voice when that decision was made, much to our country's detriment.

It would behove our present "leaders" to listen to our concerns and suggestions and be more approachable. Once our voices are raised en masse through sheer frustration and ire, even the most ignorant will be either enlightened or deafened by their own ignorance!

CAPTIVE CONSUMER

City of Hamilton