Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says there is an urgent need to revise policies regarding maternal health in T&T.
He made the comment yesterday following a tour of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, while responding to questions relating to the recent deaths of two babies and a mother at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mount Hope.
Deyalsingh said he believed that many of the cases of maternal death could be avoided if mothers knew their respective health conditions better.
“Do you know one in four women who are pregnant either are obese, diabetic or hypertensive and if they have one or two or all, it can have adverse outcomes that we don’t want? So we have to start with education and the revising of policies and procedures within the hospitals,” Deyalsingh said.
He said he hoped the director of women’s health on the board could attend to the issues, with the main one being education.
“Educating women before getting pregnant so that they can be aware as to their risk factors. What happens in the public domain, the discussion goes a certain way in that you want to pass blame, but what I am saying is to have a look at the whole thing and start with the women being given the proper advice,” he said.
Deyalsingh also pointed out that women these days, especially professional women, are now delaying childbirth until their 40s, which he said only increased the risks.
“That is why we have to start with educating the population and have a look at policies and procedures within the system,” he said.
Regarding baby Asia Marie Small’s death on Monday, Deyalsingh said he understood the emotion being expressed by the baby’s parents, but said that there was a process that must take place before answers could be given.
“First of all the autopsy has not been performed yet, but we can’t do or say anything until that autopsy has been done. I know everybody wants answers immediately but we have to go through the process before,” he said.
He also disclosed that he was expected to meet with the Medical Chief of Staff at the Women’s Hospital in Mount Hope, Dr Karen Sohan, on Friday on the matter, when he was also expected to receive an official report.
It was reported that baby Asia Marie’s mother, Chelsea Robinson, 19, spent over 48 hours in labour, screaming and begging nurses for help before delivering a dead baby born with faecal matter in her mouth. Robinson was a first-time mother.
Her baby had died in her stomach before an emergency delivery, after medical staff discovered faeces had entered the womb.
Robinson and her family are now demanding answers from the management of the hospital as they fear negligence may have played a part in the baby’s death.
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Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh continued his tour of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital yesterday—his third day of viewing the institution.
According to Deyalsingh, he used yesterday to show solidarity with the healthcare workers who carried out their respective duties on a public holiday.
“I am just here to support them and say that I too can come out and work on a public holiday. I am happy to see that there are many positive stories coming out of the hospital that are not really heard of.
“This morning (yesterday) I met a mother and daughter who were involved in an accident and they were brought to tears as they thanked me for the level of care and service that they had received here at the Accident and Emergency Department,” Deyalsingh said.
However, members of the media invited to cover the minister’s tour were not allowed access inside by ministry officials.