Gov’t Strengthening Support for Mothers and Newborns

The Government is transforming primary healthcare to strengthen antenatal and postnatal support for mothers and newborns, says Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.

He noted that already, through the Maternal Health Programme, the Ministry is ensuring that all mothers receive high-quality care during pregnancy, childbirth and in the postpartum period.

“We are reforming primary healthcare beyond hospital care and part of that reform, which you will hear about in the future, is greater support in the communities around care for mothers and their young ones even before they give birth.

“There is a comprehensive programme that will show itself in full form in time around how that will be done with the redesignation of our primary care health facilities,” he said.

Dr. Tufton was addressing a ceremony for the handover of the refurbished breastfeeding room in the nursery at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston on Tuesday (October 15).

The work, which was undertaken by the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston at a cost of $500,000, provides a more comfortable environment for mothers while they breastfeed their babies.

The space has been equipped with recliner chairs, television, reading area, blankets, receivers, hats, socks, onesies for 40 premature babies, and a colourful wall mural.

Dr. Tufton, in commending the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston for undertaking the project, noted the importance of the nursery in the care of premature babies, who require specialised attention.

He said that locally, 12 per cent of babies are born before 37 weeks, while the average is four to 16 per cent globally. Between 40 to 50 per cent of admissions to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at hospitals across the island are premature.

“Premature births, more often than not, are not something that we can avoid… but it is something or a circumstance that we can manage… . Some of the critical protocols like attending clinic regularly and ensuring that appropriate levels of care are administered are very important,” he pointed out.

Turning to the continued reduction in the country’s birth rate, Dr. Tufton said the situation poses socio-economic implications for the future.

“If you study the numbers, you will see where our replacement population is actually at a rate that is lower than our capacity to sustain ourselves… . The average woman of childbearing age is having 1.9 babies, when our replacement rate is some 2.1. We are actually below the rate,” he pointed out.

Total deliveries from 2018 show a steady decline in the birth rate.

Deliveries for 2018 were 7,116; 2019, 7,201; 2020, 7,002; 2021, 6,878; 2022, 6,719; and for 2023, 6,018.

“When you look at other factors such as migration plus the low birth rate, then it clearly points in a direction where the population has actually plateaued in Jamaica and is about to decline.

“That has all sorts of socio-economic implications, and it is something that we will have to have a deeper discussion around planning policies and labour market, among other things,” Dr. Tufton said.

Distinguished Lieutenant Governor, Kiwanis Club of New Kingston, Carolyn McDonald- Riley, in her remarks, hailed the project as a testament to the Club’s dedication to serving and supporting the community.

“As Kiwanians, we are committed to creating a nurturing community environment for mothers and babies and promoting breastfeeding as a cornerstone of infant health and strengthening the community partnerships that provide lasting impact,” she said.