For mother’s sake

The oddest part of the situation in which we find ourselves – where many still believe it is a man’s world – is the fact that women, more than men, go through extraordinary things for the sake of the human race. Just one example is childbirth, a process without which the race would not be able to perpetuate.

Unfortunately, when it comes to maternity issues, the State has a bad reputation. Whether this is merited or not (thousands of cases are handled without incident), the fact is one bad case is one case too many.

And there have been many bad cases involving botched Caesarean sections.

As such the $4.3 million renovation of the Mount Hope Women’s Hospital at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, as simple as it is, is most welcomed. As noted by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, the public expects all medical staff to perform at their best, yet how can we expect this when the conditions in which these workers function are not optimal? “(We) didn’t have proper staff facilities yet we expect our staff to perform,” the minister said as he visited the hospital on Mother’s Day. “We are totally redoing the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department. So we are upgrading the facilities to focus on our two main customers – staff and patients.” A cynic might say the facelift is little more than tinkering with a system with major flaws – such as the conflicting private and public practices of doctors, the inefficient procurement regime governing regional authorities and clear quality control gaps which have resulted in reports of poor-quality subsidised drugs being administered. Yet, it is also true that no person should have to work in conditions that are not conducive to work. And every little improvement in the system should be welcomed. It signals an intent to bring forth even more profound improvements.

And more profound improvements are sorely needed in areas further afield.

Not only do mothers and women face unique challenges when interacting with our healthcare system, but they must also contend with a misogynistic society in which violence against females is tragically the norm.

We see this reflected in the politics behind some of our music, art and cultural events. And we see it every day with the latest headlines telling us of some tragic end to yet another mother.

This Mother’s Day, instead of making breakfast and presenting her with flowers, the children of murdered mother and grandmother Tara Ramdeen were preparing to attend her funeral service. Ramdeen’s daughters Anna, Dana, Melani and son Vishnu wept as they held each other near Ramdeen’s coffin. Their cries reverberated throughout Bristol Village, Mayaro.

Amidst the fun and revelry of the Police Service sports day on Saturday, tribute was paid to murdered mother PC Nyasha Joseph.

Her body was found in the Gulf of Paria on March 16 by fishermen after she went missing on March 8.

Sea Lots resident Kenneth Browne and his ex-wife Melissa Browne of Carenage have been charged with murder and have appeared in court.

These are just some of the tragic cases involving mothers in recent times.

As a society we must do far better to do justice to the women who rear us. We must work to ensure mothers are safe, and can access quality healthcare and that they do not have to content with a society in which anything goes.