By Elizabeth Williams

Copyright trinidadexpress

THERE is a drastic reduction in the birth rate in Tobago.

This from Tobago House of Assembly Health Secretary Dr Faith Brebnor as she spoke on Friday during the launch of the Health Hygiene Lounge, on the ground floor at the Division of Health.

“When we look at our birth rate in Trinidad and Tobago, and Tobago specifically, we do recognise that for the last five or so years, five to ten years we have been seeing a reduction and it is a drastic reduction,” she said.

She stressed the drastic reduction in the birthrate in Tobago must be dealt with urgently.

“We have to figure out what’s causing that reduction. In many instances there are the social issues and we have to figure out how to get it back up. So the Tobago House of Assembly has been actively implementing what seems like small projects but it is because we truly have the vision,” she said.

Brebnor, however, did not provide statistics on the birth rate reduction.

The Health Hygiene Lounge was the vision of assistant secretary Community Development, Megan Morrison, who brought remarks at the launch.

“No one should ever have to choose between food or menstrual products (but) that is an actual reality. Just like food this is a need which has gone unnoticed and they have weighed heavily on our women and girls. Menstrual care is not only a woman’s issue it is a universal one,” Morisson said.

According to the Division of Health, the Health Hygiene Lounge (HHL) is a dedicated, family-friendly space designed to support the health and dignity of women and families.

The HHL features two rooms—a Menstrual Health Room and a Breastfeeding Room. Menstrual products are now available to staff within the Division on an emergency basis, and external clients based on a needs assessment, while the space and services at the Breastfeeding Room are open to all pregnant and nursing mothers who work at or visit the Division of Health.