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Health Ministry’s strategy will reduce maternal deaths – Dr. Ramsammy

Dec 23, 2010 News

Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has expressed optimism that the coordinated efforts of his Ministry and some private doctors will lead to a reduction in the present spate of maternal deaths.
“We hope so,” the Health Minister said when asked if he believed that the programme will work.
“It’s the same people who reduced maternal deaths from 32 (a year) to below eight (who are involved), and if we were able to make that improvement then we can reverse it (again).”
Dr. Ramsammy was referring to a recent programme, which he said was set up by his Ministry, to get more professional staff for the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Maternity Department.
Attempts are being made to get a Consultant/obstetrician on staff, and increase the number of junior doctors in the maternity department. There are indications that the United Nations may assist in paying the salary of an overseas obstetrician.
Kaieteur News was told that a team of private doctors, who met with GPHC officials, also recommended that the GPHC operation theatre be prepared to deal with maternal emergencies around the clock.
The group also recommended that eight junior doctors be placed in the Maternity Department for an extended period.
Four junior doctors have already been transferred to the Maternity Department and another four are reportedly to be deployed there soon.
They also suggested that a training programme be set up mainly for maternal staff in outlying areas.
In the interim, the private physicians gave their commitment to assist at the GPHC.
Former Medical Council Chairman Dr. Galton Roberts, who has a private practice, has been working at the GPHC with the junior staff, while assisting in re-organising the maternity department.
An official revealed that the private physicians met with the GPHC officials about three weeks ago, after two maternal patients died at the hospital.
Those at the meeting included Chief Medical Officer Michael Khan, Director of Medical Services Dr. Madan Rambarran, the GPHC Matron and staff of the Maternity Department.
Focusing on some of the limitations in the GPHC maternity department, an official said that the GPHC was “devoid of consultant/obstetrician staff.
A source said that the department has a Chinese obstetrician who cannot communicate effectively with the staff.
Another obstetrician who is an Indian national reportedly left about two months ago and is not expected back until January.
There is also an Angolan (the Registrar) and there was also a Nigerian physician who was recently fired for demanding money form patients.
In addition, the department has a Guyanese physician with seven months’ post-internship experience.
The source said that the department also had about four interns and young doctors who are rotated to other departments.
Recently, Inga Nieuenkirk, a 23-year-old mother from Linden, succumbed hours after delivering a stillborn at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The woman’s death raised questions as to why she was brought to Georgetown instead of having her surgery at the Linden Hospital Theatre.

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