Nurses want more money

Speaking at the anniversary celebration held at the grounds of the hospital, Christobelle Smith-Aguillera said: "To achieve our goals of our profession we must have tools namely, nurses and equipment."

Although Health Minister, John Rahael was absent, she appealed to his representative Christopher Smith to take back her message. "I implore the Minister of Health to continue the (nurses) training programme and seriously look at the compensation package for nurses so that more of our nurses will remain in TT." This comment evoked applause from the nurses in attendance.

She said nurses were leaving the profession for a range of reasons-retirement, migration, career development and death. Aguillera highlighted some of the areas MHWH nurses were involved: antenatal care of patients, the fight against teenage pregnancy, prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child, and pap smears. She reminded midwives of their integral role in the development of all babies delivered at the facility, and attending to women through the different stages of pregnancy (antenatal through postnatal). She said the care given must be second to none and "no mistakes must be made." Aguillera thanked all staff for their support and dedication.

From its opening on July 14, 1980, to the end of 2004, approximately 131,000 deliveries took place at MHWH and more than 25,000 sick babies treated in the neonatal unit. Dr Zulaika Ali, Professor of Child Health and Neonatology, UWI St Augustine said Mt Hope is also a teaching hospital responsible for training 1,329 doctors and 23 specialists in obstetric/gynaecology.

Midwives, nursing assistants and other medical personnel have also been trained at the hospital. Ali said MHWH had an active outreach programme which included breastfeeding promotion, child care, obstetrics/gynaecology services at health centres and communities.

Ali said MHWH was initially supposed to function as a family planning outpatient facility to have a maximum of 1,500 deliveries. However, when it opened it had a "peak delivery" equal to Port-of-Spain General Hospital of "a little over 6,000".

Dr Ali said it currently delivers more babies (11,000) than PoSGH "and I have to say we have the smallest staff to cope with that." Professor Phyllis Pitt-Miller, deputy chair North Central RHA said a range of services were now offered to cover women’s health: Lamaze classes, ultrasounds and lab services, obstetric/gynaecology, neonatal and anesthetic services. She said one of the major initiatives is the baby friendly hospital initiative.

Pitt-Miller said WHO/UNICEF launched this initiative in 1991 as part of its global strategy for infants and young child feeding. She said with baby friendly recognition MHWH would "raise the potential to increase the national breastfeeding rate with its attendant benefits".

Attending the celebration were President George Maxwell Richards and his wife Jean Ramjohn Richards whose long service as an anesthetist at the MHWH was recognised with an award. Several other workers were also recognised.

Also delivering greetings were Fr Esau Joseph, medical chief of staff; Janette Mieres, hospital manager II and Dr Bhoe Tewarie, pro-vice chancellor, UWI.