Mother who delivered in GPHC’s compound does not blame anyone - says her baby was too excited to see the world
By Romila Boodram, October 28, 2013, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source
Coretta Sharpe poses with her newborn
The 33-year-old woman, who gave birth to her baby in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s compound Thursday night, said she does not blame anyone for what happened to her.
The woman, Coretta Sharpe said that at around 11:00pm, while on her way to the Maternity Ward, she delivered her baby boy in the compound of the facility but “no one was responsible for that.”
There were reports in some sections of the local media that Sharpe had blamed the hospital’s security guard for delaying her entry into the compound.
It was reported that the woman said that if the security guard at the entrance of the Maternity Ward had not delayed her time at the gate, she could have made it to the delivery room in time.
But Sharpe yesterday told Kaieteur News that the security guard did not delay her time but was simply doing her duty. She believes her baby was “too excited to see the world.”
The GPHC, in a statement said that the security guards have to take necessary precautions before allowing persons into the compound since a nurse was recently doused with acid and according to Sharpe, she fully agrees with that.
During an interview, Sharpe, who is now at home resting with her baby, explained that around 10:00pm on Thursday she started to experience severe abdominal pain.
“I thought it was turning pain because the hospital gave me until next month. I call my stepmom and she advised me to go to the hospital. She came and collected me with a taxi and my mom and sister accompanied us to the hospital,” Sharpe noted.
She explained that while at the entrance of the hospital’s Maternity Unit, the guard informed them that she cannot allow so many persons to enter the compound at that hour.
“The security tell us that it’s one of the hospital’s rule, so she cannot allow all of us to go inside. My step mom stayed in front and my mom and sister along with the taxi driver went inside,” the mother of three stressed.
The woman added that if she had to point fingers at the health institution then she would blame the porters for not being there when they ought to be.
“After we didn’t see any porters, my sister went back in front and sent my step mom. While we were about to walk up the step, my water bag (amniotic sac) burst, I feel the baby head like it coming down and my mom put me to lie down,” a smiling Sharpe recalled.
She added that while her mother assisted in holding her, her step mother, “put her hand in my underwear and told me to push and she (step mother) collected the baby. By then, a doctor and two nurses rush to help us.”
GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), in an invited comment advised all media houses to conduct a thorough investigation before they carry a story. He said that the security guard was simply doing her duty. She simply informed the family that only one person could accompany the pregnant woman to the ward.
“In the nights, the security guards would check to see who they are letting into the compound because one of our nurses was attacked before so we have to take precautions,” Khan stressed.
He added that when the relatives of Sharpe called out for help, a doctor and two nurses immediately went to assist her. “Babies don’t tell you when they are coming; there are mothers who gave birth in buses, in barber shops and cars.”
Meanwhile, Sharpe thanked the staffers at the hospital for responding to her cries “so fast.”
