SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — In a powerful show of unity, a determined group of healthcare professionals from the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital stepped away from the wards and into the streets on Monday morning, rallying against the rising tide of violence targeting women, children, and fellow caregivers across Jamaica.
Wearing scrubs, walking shoes, and conviction, the hospital staff carried placards bearing both printed and handwritten messages: “Protect Our Nurses,” “Stop the Abuse,” and “Silence Is Not an Option.” The march, escorted by police officers, began at the hospital gates and made its way through the town center, culminating in a firm yet peaceful demonstration at Hendon Square.
Nurse Stacey-Ann Scott, a senior ward manager at the hospital and one of the primary organizers of the demonstration, addressed onlookers with a steady voice and an urgent message: “We are not only standing for our colleague who was violently attacked—this is for every Jamaican woman and child who has been silenced by fear. This is for every nurse who risks their life to save another.”
Scott’s message was rooted in last week’s viral video of a University Hospital nurse being brutally assaulted in a public setting—an act that sparked national outrage and brought renewed attention to gender-based violence. That incident, which led to criminal charges against a 65-year-old businessman, served as the catalyst for Monday’s action.
The protest was more than symbolic. It was a call for systemic accountability, support for survivors, and the creation of safer working and commuting conditions for nurses and other vulnerable groups.
As the marchers passed along Beckford and Lewis Streets, members of the public paused to applaud or join the walk, moved by the clarity of the cause. At one point, a protestor shouted, “We heal this country every day—who’s healing us?” The crowd responded with a resounding cheer.
The event closed with a moment of silence back at the hospital, followed by a message of encouragement: “If you’re hurting, don’t hide. Come to us—we will help.”
Monday’s march, though modest in size, echoed with something larger than protest — it echoed with resolve.
