Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) has officially launched Project Bloom, a public education and outreach campaign designed to encourage early prenatal care, improve access to maternal health services, and support better outcomes for mothers and babies across Antigua and Barbuda.
According to Antigua News Room, the initiative was launched in direct response to a growing concern that too many women are beginning prenatal care late in their pregnancies — or not seeking care at all until delivery. Project Bloom aims to address this gap through clear, supportive messaging and practical guidance to help expectant mothers take that critical first step early.
At its core, the campaign promotes a straightforward but vital message: begin care early, use community clinics and healthcare providers for routine check-ups, and transition to hospital services for high-risk support and delivery. Importantly, the campaign also stresses that it is never too late to start care, seeking to remove stigma and offer support to women at any stage of pregnancy.
"Early prenatal care is one of the most important things we can do to protect the health of both mother and baby," said Dr. Raymond Mansoor, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at SLBMC. "We are seeing cases where women present late with conditions like hypertension and even infections such as syphilis — issues that can be identified early, managed effectively, and in many cases prevented from causing serious complications. Through Project Bloom, we want women to understand that starting care early gives us the opportunity to act early, ensuring safer pregnancies and better outcomes for both mother and child."
Project Bloom will unfold over one year through a combination of social media content, public service announcements, media interviews, and enhanced antenatal classes. Each phase of the campaign will target common barriers to care, including uncertainty about where to seek help, fear surrounding a first visit, and misconceptions about high-risk pregnancies.
Ann-Marie Browne-Isaac, SLBMC's Departmental Nurse Manager for Maternity and Outpatient Clinic, which includes the antenatal clinic, underscored the daily impact early care has on families. "Our message is simple: start early with your community clinic or healthcare provider. This is one of those moments where most families come in happy, and we want them to leave happy. Starting care early helps us keep it that way — ensuring safer pregnancies, smoother deliveries, and the best possible outcomes."
Project Bloom also acknowledges that the barriers preventing women from seeking care are not always medical in nature. "Sometimes the barriers aren't just medical, they're emotional, financial, or simply not knowing where to start," said Chanier Moore, Social Worker at SLBMC. "Our message is simple: you are not alone in this. There is support available, and taking that first step, no matter how small, can make a real difference for you and your baby."
By combining education, community outreach, and patient-centered messaging, Project Bloom aims to increase early engagement in prenatal care and ensure that more mothers and babies receive the care they need when it matters most.
SLBMC is encouraging all expectant mothers and their families to connect with their community clinics or healthcare providers and begin their prenatal journey as early as possible. For more information about Project Bloom, antenatal services, or upcoming classes, contact the SLBMC Outpatient Clinic at 484-2727.
