Maternal health being prioritised post-Melissa

A national maternal health outreach programme has commenced to improve health education, awareness and

access to key services in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Krystal Lee, led the first intervention in a series of three across southern and western Jamaica last Friday at the Black River Health Centre antenatal clinic in St Elizabeth.

"We are accelerating repair and recovery efforts at health facilities, and, in particular, we are restoring maternal and child health services so that mothers can receive uninterrupted, high-quality antenatal care," she said.

Organised through the ministry's family health unit, more than 45 mothers accessed a suite of maternal care services which included health checks, psychosocial counselling, ultrasound sonography and physical activity assessment. Mothers with red-flag symptoms received special care.

"We have mobilised additional outreach teams, mobile clinics, and community health workers to ensure that even mothers in the hardest-hit areas get the support that they need," Lee added.

More than 50 care packages were distributed to pregnant and lactating mothers, comprised of hygiene kits, food supplies including supplements, baths and mosquito nets. There was also a focus group discussion and quantitative survey conducted among pregnant women on site to assess their circumstances and post-hurricane needs, with a view to identify priorities for intervention. A team of doctors, nurses, health education and behaviour change officers from the ministry and the Southern Regional Health Authority participated in the intervention, alongside external partners UNICEF and UNFP.