Amid a number of maternal deaths for which the public health system has been criticized, the Ministry of Health is to convene a consultation on maternal health.
A notice in today’s Guyana Chronicle said that all NGOs and representatives of civil society are invited to participate in a consultation “to identify bottlenecks and prioritize solutions to improve maternal health”.
The consultation will be held on Monday, July 15 at Red House, the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre from 1 pm to 3.30 pm.
The notice under the name of Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud said that for registration and information, persons can contact the CMO Secretariat on 226-1224.
The recent death of 28-year-old Luan Rodney and her unborn child at the Georgetown Public Hospital caused consternation.
The obstetrician who was on duty at the time has been sent on administrative leave pending a decision by the Chief Medical Officer.
Rodney and her baby girl died on June 4th during delivery. Her autopsy revealed she suffered a ruptured uterus and severe haemorrhaging. Her husband Nigel Rodney has claimed negligence by medical personnel.
Doctors spoken to by this newspaper had expressed dissatisfaction with the way the woman was treated and had opined that it was a death that could have been easily avoided. Concerns were raised as to the use of the pill Cytotec to induce labour. The pill was inserted into her to bring on labour since she was long past her due date. She was due to deliver by May 22 and the pill was inserted on the night of June 3.
According to medical sources, the pill’s use is safe once it is administered by a doctor and the patient is continuously monitored.
There have been other maternity deaths and the Health Ministry has faced questions about the management of this issue in previous years.
