The report carried by some News Corp papers that pregnant women on Nauru “are refusing medical attention” is incorrect.
“The truth is simply that there is no medical attention available for them on Nauru,” said Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition.
The Australian Immigration Department has made a political decision, over-riding medical advice, to order that asylum seekers will only be offered to go to PNG or to have their babies on Nauru.
The Immigration decision, taken in August, reversed previous best-practice for asylum seekers and their families to be taken to Australia to have their babies.
“But it is clear that Nauru is not equipped to deal with complicated births. Infant mortality on Nauru is 30 per 1000 live births compared to 4.4 in Australia. The risk is obvious.
“One of the asylum seeker women due to give birth has a diabetic pregnancy that Nauru cannot safely manage. It that case a letter, asking for help, was sent to IHMS four months ago – but there was no answer. There will be further risks to mother and baby if a caesarean section is necessary.
“Increasingly, it has been Immigration policy to only act when a life-threatening situation arises. But every birth is a potentially a life-threatening situation, for mother and baby. When there are complications, the risk is even higher. The onus is on the government to provide proper medical care for a safe birth.
“If the government acts quickly, the pregnant women can be transferred to Australia on a normal commercial flight. The longer they leave it, the greater the risk becomes.
“Comparing Nauru to regional areas of Australia is vacuous, when emergency care is only available by medivac.”
For more information, contact Ian Rintoul mob 0417 275 713.