LUCEA, Hanover — With the expectation that the parish of Hanover could see a surge in pregnancies within the next two years, the donation of a vital piece of equipment that reduces risk during childbearing has been widely welcomed.

New York’s Northwell Health has donated a cardiotocography (CTG) monitor to the parish’s Noel Holmes Hospital (NHH).

“As most persons are aware, the parish of Hanover is expanding in terms of development — we have Ocean Point that was recently constructed and we have several other housing schemes. When we did our demographic checks we realised that quite a number of those residents are in their child-bearing years so you know what that means. That would mean that it’s a strong possibility, within the next year or two, our delivery might double so us getting equipment like this, it is so timely at this point. So, we’re truly appreciative of the donation,” said NHH CEO Carlington McLennon.

During pregnancy and labour the CTG monitors the baby’s heartbeat and the mother’s contractions. It, along with other useful supplies, was presented to the hospital’s executive team in Hanover during a brief ceremony held at the institution last Friday.

The team of donors from the United States of America was led by Dr Sandra Lindsay who was the first person to be injected with the COVID-19 vaccine in the USA. Last year she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President Joe Biden.

Lindsay, who is from Jamaica, is vice-president of public health advocacy at Northwell Health, which is New York’s largest health-care provider, serving New York City, Long Island and Westchester.

“On behalf of our president and CEO Mr Michael Dowling and our workforce of 82,000 and counting employees, it gives me great pride and pleasure to represent the workforce at Northwell Health in handing over such a very important piece of equipment that is well-needed in the community for safe deliveries and just to make sure our expectant mothers and babies are healthy,” Dr Lindsay said during the handover ceremony.

She explained why her institution opted to help the type-C facility.

“I was alerted to the need through my friend, Shoshana Crighton. Her mom is here — Miss Joan Christy, thanks for coming to witness this handover — and she was alerted by your then-acting CEO Mrs Tomlinson. And so when she said, ‘Sandra, we have this need at the Lucea Hospital…’ I told her I will do my best to see if my organisation could donate this equipment,” said Dr Lindsay.” I am so proud to know that I work for an organisation that supports my people.”

She also commended residents of the parish for the interest shown in the development of the State-run institution.

“The community being here to witness that shows how integrated they are in the success of the hospital and just what happens in their communities because really, as citizens, we have to craft and create the communities that we want to live in so, thank you for coming out. Thank you for supporting your community, your hospital — and really that’s just how it should be,” stated Dr Lindsay.

Like Director of Nursing Services Gracia Davis Brown, the senior medical officer for the Noel Holmes Hospital, Dr Patrice Monthrope was happy for the gift.

“It’s a vital piece of equipment to reduce our maternal mortality and perinatal mortality. In other words, that’s to make sure that we have safe births — it’s always a big thing — and you know recently we had new initiatives with the Ministry of Health to ensure that we have the necessary equipment to ensure that we have safe deliveries [by] mothers,” said Dr Monthrope.

“We have training sessions with our midwives who mainly deliver our babies. They’re extremely grateful for this, and also our young doctors who are training as well,” added the medical officer.

Parish manager for Hanover Health Services, Aldwayne Beckford said the NHH welcomes more partnerships in the future.

“We look forward to even greater initiatives with the support of our community because if we don’t have the community he hospital cannot have that success that it is hoping to have in terms of delivering quality care services. It is a partnership that we are looking forward to, a public-private partnership, and we are asking for support from the community as well,” Beckford said.

— Anthony Lewis