Secretary of Health and Social Services, Albert Pilgrim, Tobago Regional Health Authority CEO George Bell, Medical Chief of Staff Dr Anthony Parillion, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Health and Social Services Dr Denise Tsoi A Fatt-Angus and Nursing Administrator Janice Almond were on hand yesterday to greet the first babies to be born on New Year's Day at the Scarborough Regional Hospital.
Pilgrim presented tokens to the mothers in celebration of their babies' birth. Christal Des Vignes of Ottley Street, Scarborough was first to give birth at 12:05 am. Des Vignes gave birth to the first girl to be born in Tobago for 2011. The baby weighed in at 2.60 kilogrammes. The baby was delivered by midwife Beverly Baptiste. Christal named her baby Aniya Alexander. The shy Des Vignes said that she was happy that she had a safe delivery.
The second baby for the year, a boy was born one minute later at 12:06am to Shengtao Zhang of Bon Accord and weighed 3.08 kilogrammes. Zhang could not comment since she did not speak fluent English. The third baby, a girl, was born to Debbie Charles of Mason Hall. The baby was born at 2.02 am, and weighed 3.95kgs. The baby girl was the heaviest of the three at the Scarborough facility. The proud mother said she was happy with her new baby. On the issue of her baby being biggest, Debbie said that she normally made big babies since her other child weighed similar. She intends to name her baby Shari Sandy. The mothers of all three babies were presented with hampers by Secretary Pilgrim.
Other mothers on the ward were also treated with special tokens. Pilgrim wished all the mothers continued "blessings and well-being for the new year and beyond."
Caption 1: Shengtao Zhang rests after delivering the second baby for the year, a boy, born at 12:06 am.
Caption 2: Debbie Charles lays alongside her baby girl born at 2.02 am, yesterday, at the Scarborough Regional Hospital. She was the third to be born and also the heaviest at 3.95kgs.