The Nurse Hodge Project Launched in St. Kitts
(ZIZ News) – The children of the late Nurse Ruth Hodge have launched a project in the Old Road community that will support women during and after their pregnancies.
The Nurse Hodge Project was created in honour of the life and work of the late Ruth Hodge, whose only career was in the field of nursing.
It will provide support to expecting mothers and their newborns by rewarding mothers for attending antenatal clinics at the community health centre.
In explaining how mothers will benefit from the project, Founder Rosie Hodge-Adams said, “We came up with the idea of giving points every time a patient attends clinic; so you’re pregnant you come to the clinic and you’re awarded points. Now after you’ve had the baby, you can cash those points in for brand new products like cases of pampers, baby bottles, Vaseline petroleum jelly, brand new baby clothes, thermometers and several other products.”
Minister of Health, the Hon. Eugene Hamilton commended the founders for their vision and encouraged women to take advantage of what is being offered.
“The Minister of Health is pleased that individuals…have chosen to give back to the community and I want to encourage others who are out there in the Diaspora, and even here in St. Kitts and Nevis, who are in a much better position to give back to the community that has helped to mould you,” Minister Hamilton stated.
He added, “I therefore want to encourage all the mothers, and fathers too, to ensure that the services that are offered here at this clinic and the gifts being presented by this wonderful foundation as a result of Ruth, you will take advantage of it.”
Also present was Parliamentary Representative for the area, the Hon. Lindsay Grant who, in echoing the sentiments of Minister Hamilton, paid homage to the work of the late Nurse Hodge.
He described Nurse Hodge as one who was “dedicated and committed not only to this community in terms of healthcare but the entire health system in St. Kitts and Nevis” and urged other nurses to emulate her approach to work.
The Nurse Hodge Project was established under the Children of the Caribbean Foundation.
ZIZ News understands that it will operate under the guidance and management of the Senior Public Health Nurse at the Old Road Health Centre.