It’s a Boy!
–Guyana’s first Christmas baby hails from Canal #2
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, December 25, 2018
On December 25, 2018, at exactly 12:12 am, Taysuwattie Budhu gave birth to her fourth child, a boy, at the Georgetown Public Hospital. This goes down in the corporation’s records as the first baby to have been delivered on this day, this year.
Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence and senior hospital officials including the Chief Executive Officer, George Lewis and Chairperson of the board Kessaundra Alves, welcomed the newborn into the world and congratulated Budhu.
The mother of the hospital’s first 2018 Christmas baby hails from the Canal #2 village on the West Bank of Demerara. She was in high spirits and excited to know that her baby was successfully delivered and is healthy.
More so, she was thankful that her delivery was safe and would be able to go home soon.
Speaking directly to Budhu, the minister noted that it is quite a joyous occasion to celebrate the birth of a healthy baby during this festive season.
This first Christmas delivery was followed by the arrival of at least four other babies during the course of the early morning.
Budhu and the other mothers who gave birth on this day benefitted from maternity hampers, compliments of the Georgetown Public Hospital and the Ministry of Public Health. These mothers include Kesha Wilkinson who gave birth to a girl, Sarifdeen Lakhan to a boy, Lisa Ramlill to a girl and Sierra Budraj, to a girl.
Minister Lawrence’s greeting to the babies of “welcome to Guyana” was echoed throughout. She was also allowed to hold and introduce herself to the newborns.
While at the ward, mothers in the pre and post-natal and caesarean post-natal wards received a visit from the minister. They too received ‘mommy packs’ (baby bags with items) as congratulatory gifts. Also, in the midst were twins born to Shivaughn Hinckson-Bakker of East Bank Berbice. These two bundles of joy were delivered on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. The mother indicated that this is her second set of twins and is sincerely thankful for her blessing of four children born within the space of two years.
As is the usual practice, the Minister of Public Health sets aside time on Christmas Day to meet the ‘Christmas babies’ born at this institution. She also meets those maternity patients who are still to deliver during the course of the day and those who would have delivered before December 25.
Delicia Haynes.
Images: Jules Gibson.