By John Denny Observer Reporter
(Charlestown, Nevis) ” Alexandra Hospital received a new fetal health monitor last Friday courtesy of the Maternal Health Fund from the Department of Health. DHL provided the shipping to get the much-needed piece of equipment to Nevis. Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Hon. Hensley Daniel attended the receiving ceremony and said this latest addition of medical equipment was another example of public and private sector partnering for the good of the people. A healthy life starts with a healthy beginning, he said. “Infant mortality is the barometer of a population’s health,” said the Minister. “Infant mortality on Nevis is lower than that of the Canada and of the U.S. and we are very proud of that. This equipment will enable us to better care for our people when they are most vulnerable ” before they are even born.” The hospital presently has a fetal health monitor, but it’s old and has been refurbished once. The new monitor is a piece of equipment Alexandra Hospital needed badly to monitor the status of an unborn child and the mother during labor. Fetal pulse, severity of contractions and many other vitals are measured by the device and it can monitor two babies at once. Last week, the Ministry of Health launched an initiative to raise $400,000 for the nursing fund. The pledge to raise the money was announced at the Red Cross building following an anonymous donation of $50,000.
