Dead babies déjà vu

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has sought to calm public concern following reports that 24 newborns have died at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital (VJH) since June 1.

In a release late Thursday, the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), which oversees the hospital, said “data collection indicates that the majority of the affected babies were born prematurely with significant factors that could have predisposed to serious illness”.

SERHA also said that there was no outbreak of infection at the facility but that there had been a notable increase in admissions to the special-care nursery when compared to both previous months and the same period last year.

This increase reportedly brought with it a higher number of critically ill infants, many of whom were born prematurely or with low birth weight. SERHA added that it activated its surge plan and took all appropriate steps to care for the babies.

SERHA’s statement yesterday came as Jamaicans, reacting to news of deaths, reflected on the deaths of 19 premature babies at The University Hospital of the West Indies in St Andrew and Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James in 2015. Those babies died from bacterial infections.

In July 2022, nine newborn babies died from infections during a bacterial outbreak at the VJH. Two deaths were reported in August and two more in September, giving a total of 13. At the time, however, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton declared that the 2022 outbreak did not compare to the 2015 scandal that led to Dr Fenton Ferguson being relieved of his position as health minister in the People’s National Party administration.

Yesterday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie also addressed the current situation, stating: “The deaths are not attributed to an outbreak of infections. What we are seeing is an increase in the proportion of critically ill babies. Of the babies who died, 55 per cent were premature, and 65 per cent had low birth weight. This adds significantly to the fragility of these babies.”

She added: “Despite the best efforts of the staff, some of these babies have, unfortunately, succumbed to their illnesses. This is deeply saddening, and we extend our sympathies to the families.”

She further sought to explain that the country was entering a time when births typically increase, and health teams were working to be ready.

“We are at the beginning of the period when we generally see a rise in the number of births. Every effort is being made across the island to prepare our healthcare workers and our facilities to adequately manage all cases.”

Meanwhile, SERHA said an ongoing investigation into the recent deaths of babies is being conducted in partnership with the Kingston & St Andrew Health Department and the team at the VJH, with additional support from the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

As part of its response, SERHA said it had increased spacing between babies, reinforced infection prevention and control protocols, redeployed staff, and strengthened the monitoring of medical supplies and equipment.

Further, SERHA extended condolences to the families who have lost their newborns and committed to providing a full public update once the investigation is complete.

The authority reiterated its dedication to ensuring the highest standards of patient care and safety across all its facilities.

According to data from the Pan American Health Organization, Jamaica recorded progress in maternal and infant health outcomes between 2006 and 2020. During this period, the infant mortality rate declined from 21.1 to 16.7 deaths per 1,000 live births — a reduction of approximately 20.9 per cent.

In addition, the maternal mortality ratio for 2020 was estimated at 98.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, representing a 19.1 per cent decrease compared to the estimated figure for the year 2000.

olivia.brown@gleanerjm.com