Health care change of heart
I have always maintained an ignorant view that whenever I became pregnant, I would never give birth in any public hospital in Trinidad and Tobago.
The truth is regardless of whether we want to admit it or not, most women have shared this similar view. Can we really be blamed? One just needs to read about the incidents at the San Fernando General Hospital to support our case.
However, recently, I have had a change of heart after reading about the prenatal and post-natal care received by Petra Lee Foon, the mother of T&T’s and the Caribbean’s first sextuplets.
I would like to thank the doctors, nurses and support staff who worked on the case. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to the head of the neonatal intensive unit of the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital, Dr Camanee Lutchmansingh for expressing her concerns over the risks that existed at the time, with regard to the delivery of the sextuplets. Such decisiveness shows your astute leadership over the period and your experience in your field.
I would like to thank the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) for ensuring all the equipment needed were procured and for addressing Dr Lutchmansingh’s concerns.
In addition, I also extend congratulations to the Minster of Health, Dr Fuad Khan, for his active and hands-on handling of the matter. Your confidence in the health sector is very touching and, surely, it must have a great impact on the morale of the staff at the regional health authorities. You have convinced me to have faith in the system.
Melissa Huggins
Couva