The Victoria Jubliee Hospital (VJH) has advised that the parents of the young mother, who recently participated in a Christmas Day recognition at the Hospital had given consent for her inclusion.
As is customary and in keeping with her portfolio responsibility for maternal health, the State Minister in the Ministry of Health & Wellness, the Hon. Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, OD, MP, along with private sector partners surprise mothers who give birth on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day with care packages to support their new journey into motherhood.
In the case of the young mother, the State Minister was unaware of the mother’s age at the time; however, the Hospital has further advised that all the necessary protocols were triggered, as the young mother has been an active participant in its teenage clinic, where mothers 10-17 years old are given antenatal care. These young mothers are required to make a report to the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) and the clinic partners with the VJH Social Work Department and the Women’s Centre as part of the standard of care for these cases.
Meanwhile, led by the State Minister, the Ministry of Health & Wellness is shortly to roll out a special maternal health programme aimed at tracking and educating mothers on the importance of seeking care for mother and child leading up to delivery. The programme will also provide much needed care packages for new mothers, even as Cabinet considers the policy on Comprehensive Sexual & Reproductive Health.