Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Expectant mother Arlene Brown await the result of her malaria tests at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston, on Christmas Day. - Photo by Petrina Francis

Three pregnant women suspected of having malaria spent Christmas at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, Kingston, as they await the results of blood samples taken from them.

The Gleaner caught up with the women at the hospital on Monday as they sat under mosquito nets in a room.

"Mi feel bad sey mi dey here pon Christmas Day because mi buy mi hair and ting fi go out an enjoy miself and now mi haffi dey yah a look in a di ceiling," said Arlene Brown, who is due to have her baby in April.

Ms. Brown, who is from Portmore, St. Catherine, said she was having a fever last Wednesday and went to her doctor who sent her to the hospital to be admitted. She did the malaria test last Thursday.

"Lawd missis mi get mad and den mi feel glad," Rocquel Stewart said of her reaction when she found out that she was going to be admitted.

The Latin American Women's Club gave the women gifts which included baby clothes, bath sets, among other items.

"Santa come an cheer mi up out of mi sadness so wi alright now," a beaming Ms. Stewart added.

Very understanding

Expectant mother Denise Morgan await the results of her malaria tests at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital in Kingston, on Christmas Day. - Photo by Petrina Francis

Denise Morgan, who is due to have her baby in February, said she was unhappy that she was in the hospital on Christmas Day, but understood that it was for a good cause.

"(But) I dying to reach home," Ms. Morgan, who is from Chisolm Avenue, Kingston 13, told The Gleaner.

The women have been treated for suspect cases of malaria. They were awaiting the results of the test before they are released from the hospital.

The Ministry of Health reported four cases of malaria on December 1. Since then, the number of cases has climbed to at least 156 up to Christmas Day.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease which is caused by a parasite transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito.