1st New Year’s baby born in San Fernando

Kamine Naitram, mom of the first born New Year's Day baby at the Port of Spain General Hospital, centre, is presented with a gift basket by the North West Regional Health Authority CEO, Major Anthony Blake, second left, on January 1. From left, are, chief operations officer Kefim Lewis; director of health Dr Keisha Gangaram; and general manager, human resources, Dr Carissa Francois. - Photo courtesy the NWRHA

FOR many, a new year allows for a new beginning, and that is especially the case for the parents of the babies born on New Years Day.

In the public health system, the first child to be born on January 1 was Brandon Ace Hezekiah Peters at San Fernando General Hospital at 12.10 am by emergency C-section.

His mother Carla Blackman works at the hospital’s laundry as a tumbler operator, although she did not inform those caring for her at the time. She told members of the media she wanted to see how her fellow staff members treated the pregnant women and mothers, and did not want any special treatment.

“I’m not being biassed but I was treated very nicely. They were perfect. All the scared I was scared, I felt good.”

Carla Blackman, the mother of the first New Year's Day baby, right, completes the first bedside birth registration at the San Fernando General Hospital on January 1. From left, are, Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodeo, Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein and Jennylyn Barton-Simon from the Registrar's Office. The baby boy was named Brandon Ace. - Innis Francis

Father Isaac Peters named Brandon, the couple’s third child. He said he always liked the name and was planning to name his first child Brandon, but the couple ended up having two girls instead.

The second baby to be born was named Ethan. He was welcomed to the world at 1.11 am at the Sangre Grande Hospital to Adanna Ward of Malabar. He weighed 6 ½ pounds and was delivered by licensed midwife Vonnetta Gooding.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority chairman Dr Sandeep Maharaj, CEO Angelina Rampersad-Pierre and staff at the Maternity Ward congratulated Ward on the new addition to her family and presented her with a hamper of baby products.

Also at Sangre Grande, Zennesha Sooklal gave birth to a baby boy who weighed six pounds at 8.45 am. Mothers and mothers-to-be on the ward were all presented with gift bags.

Adanna Ward and her newborn baby Ethan, hours after his birth at the Sangre Grande Hospital. - Photo courtesy the ERHA

At Point Fortin Hospital, Krystal Lewis gave birth to a boy at 2.10 am and, at 4.11am, Ophelia King had her boy at the Mount Hope Women's Hospital.

The North West Regional Health Authority was the only one producing girls that morning, with two of the four babies born at the Maternity Department at the Port of Spain General Hospital being female.

The first girl arrived at approximately 2.32 am, weighing 6 lbs 4 oz, born to Kamine Naitram. The second was also a baby girl, born at 6.37 am, weighing 7 lbs 1 oz, to I’da Manswell.

The boys came at 8.25 am, weighing in at 5 lbs 12 oz, to Shekil Alfred, and Vernell Wilson-Awango welcomed her baby boy at 9.46 am.

Members of the NWRHA’s management team, including CEO Major Anthony Blake, chief operations officer Kefim Lewis, director of health Dr Keisha Gangaram, and general manager of human resources Dr Carissa Francois assisted in the presentation of tokens to the mothers.

Tobago also welcomed two babies, born at the Scarborough General Hospital.

Dr Faith Brebnor, Secretary of Health, Wellness and Social Protection, presents Kyla James of Canaan, Tobago with New Year’s Day birth gift courtesy the Tobago Regional Health Authority. James had a baby girl at 4.57 am on January 1. - Photo courtesy TRHA

The first was a girl born to Kyla James of Canaan at 4.57 am. Keresha Wheeler of Mason Hall then had a boy at 5.26 am.

Deputy Chief Secretary and Secretary of Health of the Tobago House of Assembly Dr Faith Brebnor, chairman of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) board of directors Christlyn Moore, TRHA CEO Dr Delmon Baker, acting medical chief of staff Dr Ainsley Waldron presented each mother with a baby gift box on behalf of the TRHA.

All mothers and their newborns were reported to be in good health.