BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ANDREW HOLNESS, a family physician for the past 11 years and one of the doctors at the Meridian Medical Centre, held discussions yesterday (May 20) with the parents and staff of the Kuddles Nursery situated at Ponds Extension.
During the very interesting and informative discussions, Dr. Holness answered many questions posed by parents regarding their children’s health. The children who attend the nursery ages range from two weeks to three years.
The discussion session was organised by Minerva Duporte, a teacher’s at the Kuddles Nursery.
Duporte told SKNVibes that since she has been working at the nursery, she noticed that a number of parents are uninformed about medications and were administering them to their children.
“So I spoke to Dr. Holness about it and he suggested having a number of discussions with the parents to keep them informed,” she said.
Duporte said that Holness is the official doctor of the nursery and they usually call him whenever they have any questions or concerns.
The nursery is very firm on childcare and has instituted a form for parents to take and have filled out by doctors who will give the required medication dosage and times they are to be administered.
The teachers stated they had noticed in the past that some parents send their children to the nursery with inadequate medication, or medication that belongs to an older child, which they describe as dangerous for the child.
He dismissed some of the ‘sayings’, taboos and myths that some parents may have been told by their parents or grandparents.
He said breastfeeding is very important and that babies should be breastfed solely until they are three months old.
He also informed parents that it was okay to give a three-month-old baby cooked food.
This came as a shock to Marisha Ceasar-Phillip, who said that it was the first time she had heard that.
“The discussion was very enlightening and informative but some of the stuff were shocking, like giving the children chicken or pork at three months and that Vicks vapor rub on children does not really help with the cold,” she said.
Dr. Holness said that foods prepared by parents are best instead of the Gerber and other products. He also advised that they could use the baby bottles to measure the proportions of food to administer to their children whenever self-prepare.
Claudia Moore, the mother of a one year-old girl, said that she enjoyed the discussion.
“I enjoyed it. It was educational and all my questions were answered. It was the first time for me attending a discussion like this and I hope there will be more,” she said.
Another parent, Natoscia Richards, felt that it was a great discussion and most of the questions she had in mind were answered.
Holness said it was a good opportunity for him to listen to the parents’ views and that the discussion was a general sharing of information.
“I learned much as well, and the parents here are very informed. I think that other nurseries should partake in an initiative like this so we can have healthier children,” he said.
Parents of the Kuddles Nursery who take their children to the Meridian Medical Centre will receive a 10 percent discount on the fee.
