Right now, in Australia there are young women dying from an easily preventable medical condition and an appalling lack of healthcare.
“The system failed her. The health system failed her. And if I don’t speak for her now and I don’t tell her story, it’s going to fail somebody else again, really soon.” Cousin
This should be a national scandal.
“If that was a white kid, in middle class Sydney, there’d be an uproar, okay? But it’s not a white kid. You know? It’s an Aboriginal kid living in the bush.” Indigenous health advocate
On Monday night, Four Corners investigates the shameful and, until now, hidden failure in public health taking place in remote Australian communities.
“It’s not fair. It’s racist. It’s unacceptable in Australia in 2021 and we’re not going to cop it anymore.” Indigenous health advocate
Incompetent and inexcusable medical care has resulted in multiple preventable deaths.
“Australia needs to know about this.” Health expert
Those left behind are heartbroken from the loss of treasured members of their community.
“What happened to her, was… it shouldn’t happen to anybody. It’s a human life. It should have been treated right…but she wasn’t treated as a human being.” Husband
Now they are telling their story to hold those in charge to account.
“We’ve got to get up, we’ve got to stand up and start saying something, otherwise it’ll keep doing it to us.” Husband
Heart Failure, reported by Louise Milligan, goes to air on Monday 7th March at 8.30pm.
It is replayed on Tuesday 8th March at 11.00pm and Wednesday 9th at 10am. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEDT, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
The issues raised in programme (07.03.2022) re RHD appalled me. This is a national disgrace.
In the mid 1960s, aged 7, I contracted rheumatic fever. I spent a month in hospital and 6 months in bed at home. On penicillin for 18 years. Did no-one at that ‘hospital’ notice that panadol wasn’t working for their patients? Some of the comments made show only too well that Australia’s treatment of her first people hasn’t changed much since the arrival of the second lot. My heart goes out to the families and friends of those who have passed away. All have been treated with contempt. By speaking out so bravely (and bluntly) change can be effected and that may bring some comfort.
How sad and appalling is this from the Federal Government. This needs to be called what it is, murder behind governance.
I am disgusted, outraged and so sad, beyond words for the aboriginal people. THIS HAS TO STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!