I write concerning the historic delivery of six children to a young couple in Trinidad and Tobago, and wish to extend my congratulations to them as parents on this historic occasion.

I also want to commend the team of doctors led by Dr Bassaw in seeing the birth of the country's first ever sextuplets. The nation as a whole celebrates this occasion.

Having said that, I now want to ask the Government, and in particular the Regional Health Authority, whether East, West North, South or Central why they have been unable to afford this same special treatment to every pregnant mother who has ever entered the doors of any of the nation's health centres or hospitals.

Didn't they too (all the pregnant mothers who either lost or had babies), deserve to receive special treatment each and every time a baby was due to be delivered?

Kindly answer this question. Even the nurses we heard of via the media, rallied themselves, were all excited and supported this delivery.

As a nation under democratic governance, Trinidad and Tobago's citizenry has suffered much at the hands of the health care system, be it nurses who are uncaring in how they treat pregnant mothers or patients who go to these health facilities, doctors who have shown scant care at times for people who are ill or other health-care professionals who just don't seem to care. Kindly argue this one.

There are records to show of the many deaths that have occurred due to negligence, many babies who never even got a chance to live, and the list goes on.

Trinbagonians often feel a sense of utter helplessness and hopelessness and no wonder.

So this country is the first in the region to deliver sextuplets. Good for us, but remember the bigger picture.

Let us hope that effective immediately, this can be a turning point in how we treat our own people and in particular all who at some time need to visit our health facilities. Over to you.

Marva Richard

via e-mail