JAMAICA-Expectant mothers urged to take greater responsibility for their well-being.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Expectant mothers are being urged to take greater responsibility for their well-being in the wake of concern about a rise in neonatal deaths at the island’s largest maternity hospital

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for health centers in the northern parish of St Ann, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said maternal mortality lies at the very core of primary healthcare.

The Minister’s comments follow a preliminary report indicating a rise in neonatal deaths at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital.

The report states that at least 24 newborns have died at the hospital since June 1.

A report from the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) pointed to prematurity as a leading cause.

The data also suggest that several of these premature births were linked to maternal health complications driven by preventable, lifestyle-related factors.

According to Tufton, lifestyle choices have a direct impact on the health of unborn children.

He also encouraged pregnant women to seek help early in their pregnancy to determine whether they are at risk so that they can access appropriate care.

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Jacqueline Bisasor McKenzie, has asserted that hospitals across the island are fully equipped to provide adequate care for all premature babies, despite mounting concern about the recent deaths at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital.

Speaking on the radio late Friday, Bisasor McKenzie, said the Ministry of Health has made significant progress in increasing the availability of equipment.

But, in response, the leading Opposition People’s National Party’s spokesman on health, Alfred Dawes, said staff at Victoria Jubilee have long been complaining about a lack of resources and “the need to hire more staff and retain staff.”