The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) held its weekly teenaged mothers’ education classes on Friday at its maternity clinic.

The classes coincide with National Breastfeeding Week.
The intention is to educate young mothers on pre-natal care; blood- pressure testing; as well as weight and urine testing and proper dietary habits. There will also be the dispensing of supplements.
Clinical instructor Marjorie Arjune said that the programme was developed to provide services with a specific focus on newborn/infant care and to help young teenaged mothers understand and meet their infants’ basic needs; develop early attachment; breastfeeding; infant-bonding massage; proper nutrition and feeding; immunizations; childhood illnesses; appropriate expectations; ages and stages of development; sleep disturbances; colic, and the importance of forming early attachments.
She said that “The more a girl is educated, the better choices she makes” ; the life- changing role that she makes will reflect on her decision- making tactics as a “mature mother “ and not that of an “immature teenager.” Noting that teen mothers are often subjected to discrimination and criticism, she encouraged them to be motivated and further their education, so that they would be able to pursue their academic goals, when they’re ready to start again. This, she said, is the only way for them to optimise their chances of success.
She emphasised that “all a child needs is food and love.” A mother needs to show her child unconditional love, she stressed.
The weekly clinic is free and Arjune encouraged the young mothers to attend the classes every Friday morning at 09:00hrs to be educated on motherhood, for support, check-ups and also financial advice, while a consultant from the Ministry of Health will also be present to discuss family planning.