The Maternity Ward at the Alexandra Hospital is now in a position to offer a more efficient and comfortable service to expectant mothers, thanks to a US$25,000 birthing bed, a gift from the Nevis Maternal Health Fund.
The state of the art bed was handed over to the Hospital on Monday during a brief but significant handing over ceremony in the presence of top Health officials including Hon Jean Harris Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration and Premier of Nevis Hon Vance Amory.
The Health Minister, a former nurse at the Alexandra Hospital thanked the group and all who contributed for their efforts and described the occasion as a happy moment. She explained that the NIA had placed much emphasis on maternal and child health because in the absence of healthy mothers and babies “we would not have a healthy nation.”
In that regard she said the Administration had secured the services of a gynaecologist/obstetrician and a gynaecologist resident on Nevis both of whom she credited with doing “a wonderful job”. She said the move was to ensure early intervention and assessment so as to avoid many complications in pregnancy and child birth.
Mrs Harris said moments after the ceremony that the Administration had expended much money to make major improvements on the Maternity Ward over the years. “We are changing all the beds and we have put air condition into the Labour Ward. Years ago when I worked there and was a patient there the nurses had to fan me. We now have rooms for bathing the baby and we have done a general overhaul of the ward. It is very colourful also and those changes were not there some years ago,” she explained.
Dr John Essien, gynaecologist/obstetrician at the Alexandra Hospital said the state of the art birthing bed of its kind could be found at any leading hospital anywhere in the world.
“We [Alexandra Hospital] are happy to be a proud owner of such a bed, which puts us on a good footing of offering quality service, quality health care of ladies who come to have their babies in our hospital. I sincerely believe that this [bed] would help us to improve on the care of the mother during labour. In situations where obstetrical procedures or surgeries are needed we would be in a good position to offer these and reduce the risk both to the mother and the baby.” he said.
Dr Essien said the bed is designed with the physics of comfort in mind so everything is in reach for the patient and also the professionals trying to help through this difficult time. It is electronically operated, has a few manual operations which uses a system of hydraulics to get in position. It looks like an ordinary bed but it can be set up very quickly into proper surgery or obstetrical positions.
Ms Tracy Brandy, Secretary Treasurer of the Nevis Maternal Health Fund while handing over the bed said, “The Nevis maternal Health Fund is committed to making pregnancy and childbirth on Nevis a safe and wonderful experience on Nevis. This is just the beginning of our efforts and we are grateful for all donations and the support we have received for the Maternity Ward.”
She explained that the fund began in 2004 when Dr Jessica Essien a gynaecologist and also the Fund’s President, recognised the challenges that had been facing the Maternity Ward and birthing mothers and the need to assist and solicited the help of her patients to raise money for the hospital.
She said the group’s next venture would be to raise funds for an incubator.
The group also presented Ms Monett Laguire with a certificate of appreciation. She was the first person to contribute to the fund, raised a sizable amount of money for the fund and was responsible for generating much support for the fund.
