HEALTH Minister Dr Christopher Tufton is appealing to expectant mothers to visit health centres for the necessary prenatal checks in order to ensure a safe delivery.

He noted that there are expectant mothers who are going through nine months of pregnancy, and only turn up at the hospital when they are ready to give birth.

He said in such instances, the doctor is left to perform a delivery without knowing the health risks, as there is no profile of the mother.

“The doctors won’t know whether the baby is premature, or if the baby is turned the wrong way, or the mother has a particular health condition,” he pointed out.

“We need to start taking responsibility for our health in this country. It is very important,” Dr Tufton said.

He was delivering the keynote address at the official opening of the Drug Serve Pharmacy at the Kitson Town Health Centre in St Catherine on Wednesday.

Dr Tufton noted that the family doctor, obstetrician or certified midwife at the clinic, provide expectant mothers with competent care from pregnancy to birth that takes into account their particular health needs.