Doctors attached to the Mt Hope Women's Hospital (MHWH) are defending the protocols that have been put in place to fight the Zika virus.
Reacting to claims by members of the public that pregnant patients were being made to wait unduly long to be seen by medical personnel, several doctors yesterday said they were working over and beyond the required protocol to attend to patients which included those with Zika and without.
Requesting anonymity, one doctor said, “This is a new pathology and therefore, there are many unanswered questions.”
Another doctor said because of the emergence of this new virus, there were no national or international experts that could be consulted.
Instead, she added that local practitioners were concerned enough to invest their time and resources into finding the answers and devising new ways of threatening patients diagnosed with the virus.
Contacted on the matter, Medical Chief of Staff, MHWH, Dr Karen Sohan called for public and private doctors to unite in their efforts to treat and educate patients about the virus and the potential risks to unborn babies.
Asked to comment on a report in which a pregnant patient living in Siparia, diagnosed with the Zika virus, had been “bounced” around by two public health institutions during the last couple weeks before being referred to the MHWH where she claimed delays had led to her still not being able to see a doctor—Dr Sohan said it was unfortunate that such situations were still occurring.
She said, “If ever a country needs to work together to address a national issue, it is now. There is no room for speculation and misinformation.”
The 27-year-old patient who is just over ten weeks pregnant reportedly visited the Siparia Health Facility and the San Fernando General Hospital before being referred to the MHWH after it was confirmed she had contracted the Zika virus.
The woman reportedly said she was advised by her private doctor to abort the baby.
However, after visiting the MHWH where she was given an appointment to have an ultrasound completed to determine the health and status of the foetus, the woman is now appealing for counseling as she is mentally torn about proceeding with the pregnancy.
Sohan empathised with the woman as she said: “We understand that our pregnant women are worried and anxious and it is our concern for them that has led to the development of the Foetal Medicine Services at Mt Hope Women’s Hospital.”
Stressing that there was a need to ensure the information being disseminated was accurate, Sohan said countless persons were involved in the project on a voluntary basis, in addition to their regular duties.
Acknowledging the importance of this national health issue, she went on, “This is a global issue as countries with far more resources than we have, are struggling to organize policies for pregnant women with Zika. New information about the Zika virus is emerging daily and as the numbers of pregnant women with Zika increase, we need to use our available resources and expertise to provide the best care for this most vulnerable group. As the numbers of affected pregnant women increase, gaps in the system have been identified.”
Assuring that they were now seeking to address these gaps and provide innovative solutions, she said, “It is clear from telephone conversations and newspaper articles that many doctors are concerned about the Zika virus in pregnancy. Following consultations with the Minister of Health, it was agreed that any suitably qualified doctor who would like to volunteer their expertise at this time will receive the necessary authorisation to assist in the programme at Mt Hope Women’s Hospital. This includes doctors in the private sector as well. While we understand that they may not be able to perform a detailed ultrasound of the fetal brain, they may be able to counsel the patients by providing the most accurate and up-to-date information in a caring and compassionate manner. We would welcome any assistance.”
Sohan advised patients who have tested positive for Zika to contact the hospital to arrange their consultation.
Meanwhile, patients who have received their referrals to the MHWH can call 662-8452 ext 2360 to schedule appointments.
Persons can also fax a copy of their referral to 662-1539.
Sohan added, “There is no doubt that if we work together, we will be able to provide the necessary care for our pregnant women with zika. We recognize that this is not an individual issue but a national issue.”