KINGSTON – The Jamaica government has launched a probe into the recent deaths of seven babies at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, the island’s only maternity hospital.
Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, in confirming reports of the deaths, said a four-member committee has been appointed to investigate the tragedy.
“It appears that the bacteria was transferred from mother to child, but I prefer to wait on the report from the committee and then we will take it from there. I have also committed to make the report public except for cases where we protect the confidentiality of patients.”
The Ministry of Health said the deaths may have stemmed from sepsis, a condition that occurs when certain fungi, bacteria or parasites attack critical organs in newly born babies.
The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) has asked to Ministry of Health to provide details on the committee that will be conducting the probe.
MAJ president, Dr Myrton Smith said the association will be keeping a close watch especially in the wake of an outbreak at two major hospitals last year in which several premature babies died from bacterial infections.
“We hope to get further details about the composition of the committee that will be comprised to look at the matter. We want to find out if they will be rehashing work that was done by the previous auditing committee that worked last year …. And certainly we would like to get an update as to where we are in terms of implementing the recommended changes arising from that audit report last year,” Dr Smith said. (CMC)
