THIRTEEN cases of maternal deaths have been recorded in 2016 and disciplinary action for negligent behaviour have commenced. Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, said in light of these deaths, one person has already been disciplined while two others are currently before the Medical Council.
Four persons were disciplined in relation to maternal deaths in 2015.
Minister Cummings said the Public Health Ministry is committed to maternal health and baby-friendly initiatives.
Under the baby-friendly initiative, 11 hospitals were accredited with ‘baby-friendly’ status.
“Guyana is the only country in [the] Anglophone Caribbean with hospitals accredited with the baby-friendly hospital status,” Cummings said, adding that this achievement is of “immense national pride.”
“However, complacency is not an option, since there are 20 more hospitals which have to be accredited,” the minister said.