Year-Round Baby Box Initiative Launched At Scarborough General Hospital
Mothers giving birth at the Scarborough General Hospital will now receive a special gift all year round, and not just on Christmas or New Year’s Day.
As part of the Secretary of Health’s ‘Baby Box Initiative’, new mothers will be presented with a box of essential items for their newborns, along with educational material for parents, once discharged.
THA Secretary of Health, Dr. Faith Brebnor, first announced plans to introduce the Baby Box Initiative at an event in November 2024 that celebrated the Scarborough General Hospital receiving Baby-Friendly Hospital accreditation. At Friday’s soft launch, ten mothers left not only with their new bundles of joy but also a box filled with items for themselves and their babies. Dr. Brebnor said this new initiative will allow mothers in need to receive support.
« This will be worth spending the extra couple of dollars every month to ensure that a mummy, a daddy, a family who needs the items that are in the box actually get it even if your baby is born on a random Tuesday in February. »
Friday’s event also saw the official unveiling of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative plaque. Paediatrics Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Inger Manswell, noted this is an important milestone for the Scarborough General Hospital.
« Specific persons were guided to train staff on the ten steps to successful breastfeeding. I am happy to report that ninety to one hundred per cent of staff in all departments were adequately trained. »
While the Scarborough General Hospital’s team celebrated improvements in their service to mothers and babies, Patient Care Services General Manager, Michelle Edwards-Benjamin, said further growth must be realised.
« We are committed not only to maintaining our accreditation status but also to expand the range of services we offer and continuously improving the quality of care we provide. »
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is an international accreditation that was launched in 1991 with the goal of protecting and promoting breastfeeding in facilities that provide maternity services. The Baby Box Initiative is said to reflect the TRHA’s dedication to giving every child the best possible start and addressing the reduction in the birth rate in Tobago.
