Monique Hepburn, News Editor
Deborah Hylton smiles at her son Dylan Lair, the first baby to be born at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St. James, for 2006. Weighing 63/4 pounds (3.08 kilograms), Dylan was born at 12:59 a.m. on Sunday, New Year's Day. - PHOTO BY MONIQUE HEPBURN
WESTERN BUREAU:
STAFF IN the obstetrics and gynaecology department at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay yesterday issued an urgent appeal to corporate citizens to assist in procuring a Doppler foetal monitor to improve diagnostic capabilities at the institution.
Ivy Brissett, department sister told The Gleaner that currently foetal heart rates are checked by an outdated traditional monitor, which should now be replaced with an electronic monitor.
ELECTRONIC HELP
"Some of the fine printers relating to heart rate while the baby is in the uterus may be missed with the traditional monitor but would be picked up by the electronic monitor," said Sister Brissett. "A Doppler would enable us to proceed accordingly, whether by way of a C-Section (Caesarean Operation) or a spontaneous vaginal delivery."
According to Sister Brissett, most hospitals in the island, have electronic monitoring systems.
She added that the obstetrics and gynaecology department at Cornwall Regional catered to more than 500 patients last year and that it is incumbent on the institution to constantly improve its service.
The appeal for the equipment came amidst yesterday's celebration for the first baby to be born at the facility for 2006.
At 12:59 a.m. on Sunday, Deborah Hylton, 26-year-old resident of Falmouth Trelawny, gave birth to Dylan Lair, a healthy baby boy weighing 3.08 kg.
"I want him to be a scholar and I want him to be athletic at the same time," Ms. Hlyton told The Gleaner.
