– fully air-conditioned facility with specialist staff soon
By Michelle Outridge
RESIDENTS of Region Three, West Coast Demerara, will by the end of this month benefit from an improved and fully functional Maternity Ward at the Leonora Cottage Hospital.This disclosure was made by Public Health Minister Dr George Norton, who Friday led a team to the hospital to meet with regional officials, including Regional Executive Officer Dennis Jaikaran and acting Regional Health Officer Shawn Bancroft, among others.
Minister Norton told the media that the defunct Maternity Ward will be refurbished and put into full use by this month-end.
He said that once the design and tendering process is completed, authorities will act swiftly to have the maternity section fully equipped and staffed, to cater to the needs of residents on that corridor and other outlying areas.
Dr Norton added that a Regional Health and Safety Committee has since been set up, and its members are working in tandem with the ministry’s contractor to have the maternity section up and running as soon as possible.
FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED
During yesterday’s tour, media operatives saw a seven-bed ward with a nurse’s station and a birthing room with beds and cots in place, but the intention is to have a fully air-conditioned Maternity Ward with an in-house specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology (OB/GYN), besides midwives.
Minister Norton said that, at present, deliveries cannot be done in the Maternity Ward for those mothers who are at a full stage for delivery.
He disclosed that refurbishing the maternity ward is a priority for the Public Health Ministry, because on Christmas Day, when President David Granger visited the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Maternity Ward, he was not pleased at finding mothers having to double-up on beds, and he wanted both mothers and babies to be comfortable.
Dr Norton told the media that an emergency meeting was then convened, and it is now of utmost importance that the Maternity Ward of the Leonora Cottage Hospital be fully operational, with an enhanced facility.
Minister Norton pointed out that another concern of utmost importance is easing overcrowding at the GPHC.
He said that once the Maternity Ward is up and running, residents from as far as Region Seven can make maximum use of the facility, which will also be equipped with an operating theatre and staff if there is need for Caesarean-section operations to be done.
INCUBATORS
The Maternity Ward will also have incubators to cater for underweight babies, and a neo-natal clinic is to be established.
Registered Midwife Savitri Chandribose told the media that, in the 1980s, babies were delivered in the then functioning Maternity Ward of the Leonora Cottage Hospital, and she is pleased that it will soon be re-opened.
Chandribose has, since 1980, been a midwife, when the facility was a 20-bed unit which delivered numerous babies. Currently, there is a shortage of midwives.
The midwife said babies continue to be delivered there, but not on a wide scale, but if a mother arrives there and she is ready to deliver, they will assist then refer that patient to the GPHC.
Dr Norton said President Granger wants a proactive approach to maternal healthcare, so there will be no maternal deaths this year.
He observed that Linden has had half as many maternal deaths as what the GPHC has had, and at present Cuban doctors are seeking employment at the hospital. Once the legal aspect is resolved, he said, the doctors will be placed where needed at health facilities to the benefit of Guyanese.
Paternity Leave
The Public Health Minister also disclosed that government is moving in the direction of extending maternity leave for mothers to enable them to be properly bonded with their newborns, and fathers will have paternity leave to enable both parents of a newborn to be on hand to spend time with their baby.
He also said that fathers will be accommodated during the birthing process, so they can witness the birth of their babies.
Government Medical Officer, Dr Stephen Foo, said that the region is focusing on primary healthcare, whereby mothers could have safe deliveries to reduce the maternal mortality rate. He said also that the ministry is looking to enhance the human resource complement at the ministry.
Regional Executive Officer Dennis Jaikaran, said there are five active programmes for healthcare and their aim is to generally improve the facilities and services at public institutions.
