WATCH: MOHW aims to bring the country’s maternal mortality rate down to 70 per 100,000 live births – Cuthbert-Flynn
State Minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn said the ministry is aiming to get the country’s maternal mortality rate down to 70 per 100,000 live births.
This was disclosed during the MOHW’s first tranche of distribution of maternal care supplies to vulnerable mothers at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital as part of its latest maternal and newborn initiative – Start Right – on Wednesday.
“The Ministry of Health and Wellness, as you know we want to make sure that we get our maternal mortality rate down to 70 per 100,000 live births.We want to get that down, we are not where we should be right now and this programme is one such programme to make sure that we get our mothers into care – mommies before you give birth,” Cuthbert-Flynn said.
The supplies include Snuggle Nests as well as diapers, skincare and hygiene products. A total of 60 mothers at the facility will be beneficiaries.
“This is the first time we are actually now displaying our snuggle nest for our mothers, for the babies and this we have to say a hearty thank you to American Friends of Jamaica and also bailey’s Medical Supplies out of the United States of America,” she stated.
“What this programme is trying to do is to respond to the vulnerable mothers of this country, specifically high risk mommies, low income pregnant women, we want to receive them into care, and you know there is a country – Finland- who started something similar to what we are emulating now, which is the baby box, and now they have integrated that into their culture where every mommy is sent home with something like this,” Cuthbert-Flynn continued, adding that “we want to do the same thing in Jamaica, we want to make sure that we’re looking at our adolescent mothers and we want to give them the right start.”
She said this kit will provide a starter kit, which is going to facilitate a safe and secure environment in the neonatal period of the baby.
“It is also supporting our teens moms and their babies in accessing and we want you to remain in care after delivery. It is very important that you get your check up even after you give birth and go home with your baby. We want to also decrease infant mortality and strangulation. I had to share a bed with three people and we know it is, we don’t want the baby to get crushed. And so this is going to be the snuggle nest, is going to actually provide a safe space for your babies when you take the baby home,” Cuthbert-Flynn said.
