Inadequate equipment for babies

The inadequacy of the neonatal equipment at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) was just one of the issues tackled at the recently held 14th Annual Perinatology Conference.{{more}}

The conference, attended by physicians, pediatricians, obstetricians and officials of the MCMH, gave an overview of the operations on the Maternity, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Obstetrics wards in 2009. It was held on Friday, January 29, 2010, at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown.

Several physicians and nurses who gave presentations identified similar problems in each department. Issues such as the increase in HIV/AIDS pregnancies, increase in teenage pregnancies, persons not attending antenatal clinics, and lack of trained personnel were highlighted.

Giving the supervisors’ report, Ward Sister Gleaver Williams stated that of the 1,885 pregnancies in 2009, 430 were teenage pregnancies. In 2008 there were 366 teenage pregnancies of the 1832 total pregnancies.

According to Williams’ report, the teenagers who are becoming pregnant are mostly in the 14 to 17 age range.

“These are the ones who disrupt their studies to start their families and either fail to continue or become frustrated having to balance between their education and family life.”

Giving similar statistics, Shakel Henson, a Medical intern in the Paediatric Department of the MCMH, addressed the need for more equipment at the hospital.

Henson said that although some equipment was received in 2009, more equipment was needed to assist in better delivery of patient care. Henson also spoke about the lack of the trained persons in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“In the neonatal ward, we are dealing with newborns, very delicate and at times ill babies. It is important that we have trained personnel that can deal with these babies,” Henson said.

However, the number of HIV/AIDS pregnancies decreased from the previous year. In 2009 there were 17 HIV/AIDS positive pregnancies, while in 2008 HIV/AIDS pregnancies were 22. Of the 17 HIV/AIDS pregnancies, 11 of the babies delivered were HIV negative. It was reported that one HIV/AIDS patient died after suffering from pre-eclampsia. She did not access antenatal care. In 2009, there were 12 repeat cases of HIV/AIDS pregnancies, 5 were new cases.

Giving a presentation on the District Statistics, Staff Nurse Suzette Jackson related that the number of mothers attending antenatal clinics was one of the challenges encountered in 2009.

Jackson said that in 2009, there were very late bookings for antenatal care, with some clients attending one to four weeks before delivery. Jackson explained that antenatal care is very important for the mother as well as the child. There were 1,474 admissions to antenatal clinics in 39 health centres.

“It is recommended that all pregnant mothers attend antenatal care as soon as a pregnancy is suspected or confirmed,” Jackson emphasized.

Remarks were also made by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Lanceford Weekes who said that further research on the data collected should be done to tackle the problems noted in the conference. Weekes added that a shipment of equipment for the wards is on its way.

PAHO family and Community Health Advisor Betzabe Butron gave an analysis of the Perinatal Data given. Butron suggested that the data should be analyzed and used to assist in the improvement of health care in the country.