The families of Nurse Sherrilyn Charlton-Bain and Custodian Marion Burrows-McKinney who gave up their lives during the first wave of COVID-19 were presented with cheques totalling $100,000 for each family. Minister of Health the Hon. Renward Wells made the presentation at the Ministry of Health, August 16, 2021. (Photo/Ministry of Health)
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Nassau, Bahamas -- The families of Nurse Sherrilyn Charlton-Bain and Custodian Marion Burrows-McKinney who gave up their lives during the first wave of COVID-19 were presented with cheques totalling $100,000.
Minister of Health the Hon. Renward Wells said The Bahamas Government and the Ministry of Health in particular, acknowledged the contributions Nurse Charlton-Bain and Custodian Burrows-McKinney have made in the healthcare system.
This is a tribute in memoriam of the sacrifice they made to save and cater to the lives of others, Minister Wells explained during the presentation at the Ministry of Health, Monday, August 16, 2021.
“Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a darkened sky over many aspects of our lives. Despite these gloomy feeling, there is a ray of hope that pierces through. Nurse Sherrilyn Charlton-Bain and Custodian Mrs. Marion Burrows-McKinney were two excellent models of hard work and dedication. During times of uncertainty and constant changes, these frontline workers remained steadfast in their duties.”
He said Charlton-Bain, a Trained Clinical Nurse deployed to the Prison Health Services, passed on October 10, 2020, and Mrs. Burrows-McKinney, deployed at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) died on September 29, 2020.
Minister Wells stated that these challenging times have truly highlighted that the roles healthcare and frontline workers execute are vital.
He said to protect them, the government made sure that these workers were given personal protective equipment, assigned to streamlined work areas, and were trained to implement job safety measures.
Minister Wells added, “The government instituted a death benefit to healthcare workers for a limited time to those who may have potentially lost their lives from COVID-19.”
He explained that both healthcare workers qualified for that death benefit, and now the government can pass on what was held in trust for both of them to their families.
“To the family members of Nurse Sherrilyn Charlton-Bain and Mrs. Marion Burrows-McKinney, we know that no monetary value can replace the life of your mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt or friend. However, it is hoped that it will provide for a time the necessary funding that would have ordinarily been supplemented by your loved ones’ income.”
Minister Wells stated that two other families who lost loved ones during the first wave of COVID-19 have been identified to receive a death benefit. “Cheques will be disbursed to these families once all legal requirements have been satisfied.”
