MINISTER SPENCER CONGRATULATES PARENTS OF QUADRUPLETS

January 25, 2008 (MOH&E):

The Minister of Health and Environment, Honourable Rudyard Spencer, has joined in extending congratulations and well-wishes to Keisha and Reginald Hird on the birth of their quadruplets yesterday (January 24) at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

Minister Spencer said that this is a historical event of significance for the health sector. The last similar event was the birth of quadruplets at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in 1988 and the birth of triplets at the Victoria Jubilee and Spanish Town Hospitals in the mid 1990s.

He commended the obstetric team at the UHWI for the quality of care delivered to mother and babies resulting in the birth of four healthy girls.

Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester, Chief Medical Officer of Jamaica, also in extending congratulations to the family noted the importance of good antenatal care in risk situations and in protecting the reproductive health of mother and child.

The Family Health Unit and the National Infant and Young Child Feeding Committee in the Ministry have so far committed to providing support for breastfeeding, and if needed, infant formula for the first year.

Four baby girls – Ruth-Anne, Isabelle, Gabrielle and Annabelle – weighing between 1.1 and 1.6 kilograms were delivered at the UHWI on January 24 two months earlier than scheduled.