Minister for Health, Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete says pregnant mothers receive several forms of support in hospitals and at their homes when they are due to deliver babies, adding once mothers have been identified as positive for COVID-19, their families are also looked after with food rations if they have to be isolated.
Dr. Waqainabete stated this after SODELPA MP, Lynda Tabuya told parliament that they have found the greatest need for these mothers and their infants are items that are not usually provided by hospitals like newborn diapers, wipes, newborn clothing and baby formula.
Tabuya asked whether there was a budgetary allocation in the new financial year specifically for these new born infants and their mothers as more and more pregnant mothers are going into isolation.
Dr. Waqainabete says the things that are given to the patients are stipulated under their policy.
The Health Minister says some organisations have been supporting in areas where the Ministry of Health traditionally did not assist in, like giving of diapers and this has been happening from before the pandemic.
He says the Ministry is also providing psycho-social support which is either provided through their professionals or counselling service providers like Empower Pacific.
Dr. Waqainabete adds the other important support is vaccination where Moderna vaccination is predominantly being given to pregnant mothers.
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