Amid the recitations of statistics, goals and initiatives at Virgin Islands Perinatal, Inc.’s annual advisory meeting Tuesday, new mothers and VIPI workers testified to the real world good done by the group for at-risk babies.
VIPI is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase pregnant women’s access to health care in the territory, promote women’s reproductive health and the health of their babies. It works with local clinics and hospitals to smooth out obstacles to quality prenatal and perinatal care, to collect data to help better assess the health and health care of the territory’s mothers, and to advocate for the needs of its clients.
VIPI also provides translation services for Spanish- and French Creole-speaking clients, goes door to door in the community looking for people who need help, gives health care information and advice, and at times transportation to and from care providers.
After an extensive overview of VIPI’s activities, several young mothers spoke personally about how VIPI helped them.
"When I was pregnant, all I knew was I had to go to the hospital," said Cornelia Descartes of St. Croix. "I wanted a healthy baby and to do what is right. They told me what to expect, helped me with my stress and helped me get to the doctor."
Holding her infant daughter, Ja’Nyah, Descartes thanked several VIPI staff members by name for their help.
Another woman who asked to remain anonymous said VIPI was a life-saver for her.
"At seven months pregnant, I was faced with being unemployed and losing my insurance," she said. "I went from enjoying my pregnancy to worrying how am I going to pay for my next doctor’s visit and what am I going to eat. Worse yet, how do I prepare for the job search with no computer, no money and pregnant?"
VIPI reassured her, gathered information and helped her form a plan of action and obtain services.
"(VIPI) not only referred me to Medicaid and Food Stamps, they ensured I had all the necessary resources," she said. "They helped me get prenatal care and after the baby was born, arranged for a crib, a playpen and a car carrier, all provided by the Community Foundation (of the Virgin Islands)."
"In short, due to their unwavering support, all my needs and concerns were taken care of."
Wanda Navarro, a certified medical interpreter with VIPI, illustrated the travails many young mothers face in the Virgin Islands and how fairly simple, inexpensive assistance can make a big difference.
"This was a 20-year-old uninsured lady brought into our offices in the Frederiksted Health Center by her aunt," Navarro said. "She had recently moved here from Vieques because family members led her to believe it would be easier to get public housing here."
She stayed with her aunt at first but that violated the housing rules and consequently she was asked to leave, making her homeless and jobless. An early checkup showed her unborn baby was beginning to show signs of possible developmental difficulties, but in her second trimester she had no prenatal care.
"She got into Mutual Homes eventually, with no money and no furniture, so she moved in immediately and was sleeping on the bare floor," Navarro said.
VIPI contacted the St. Croix Women’s Coalition and other groups who helped out with some basic household furniture and other useful stuff. They got her signed up for food stamps and for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and arranged for transportation for prenatal care at the island’s clinics.
"She delivered a healthy boy, she’s receiving TANF and has decided to attend school as part of the TANF program," Navarro said.
To date, VIPI has helped 146 St. Thomas clients and 246 St. Croix clients through to the birth of their baby. Fifty percent of clients are uninsured and 74 percent have annual incomes of $10,000 or less.
