Thursday, March 28, 2024

Day care dilemma

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Gemma Benjamin, the woman who gave birth to the island’s first microcephaly twins, wants to know what facilities are available to cater to children with illnesses.

The 34 year old Pine, St Michael mother to 13 month olds Toriaya and Tariaya said it has been an uphill battle trying to get the babies into a day-care facility.

Microcephaly is a birth defect in which a baby’s head is smaller than normal since their brain is not properly developed. This leads to intellectual disability, poor motor function, poor speech, abnormal facial features, seizures and dwarfism.

Benjamin pointed out the children required specialised care and while they attend the Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre one day a week, she was still trying to get the identical twins into the day-care section.

“I was informed that I would have to contact the person in charge to get a referral. I have been calling almost on a daily basis; I left several messages but no one has contacted me,” the mother cried.

She is desperate because she has no family support, has lost the caretaker and has been forced to stay home to look after the children, thereby risking her job.

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