The Ministry of Health and Wellness distributed the first tranche of 100 care packages to 60 mothers at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital through its Start Right programme.

Launched by Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, state minister in the ministry of health, Start Right is an initiative aimed at providing supplies for vulnerable mothers and their newborns with the overall objective to improve maternal healthcare islandwide.

The care packages were delivered yesterday (March 29) to vulnerable mothers at the hospital.

Cuthbert-Flynn shared that the programme forms a part of the ministry’s greater aim, which is to lower the country’s maternal mortality rate.

“The Ministry of Health and Wellness, as you know we want to make sure that we get our maternal mortality rate down to 70 per 100,000 live births. We want to get that down, we are not where we should be right now and this programme is one such programme to make sure that we get our mothers into care – mommies before you give birth,” Cuthbert-Flynn said.

The supplies included Snuggle Nests a portable infant lounger/bed packed with supplies such as diapers, and skincare and hygiene products.

Start Right is a partnership with the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) that helped to supply the supplies to the vulnerable mothers at the hospital. The programme is expected to later target 2,000 mothers.

READ: Ministry launches ‘Start Right’ to assist vulnerable mothers