Health Minister Zuzana Dolinková poses with a premature baby. (source: Facebook/Zuzana Dolinková)
Health Minister Zuzana Dolinková (Hlas) took a photo with a premature baby during her visit to Poprad hospital, eastern Slovakia, last week.
Despite the fact that such babies require an extremely careful approach, Dolinková did not wear a mask and other protective clothing, which are worn by parents in such cases, writes the website Korzár.
"I’d never allow myself to violate the regulations of any workplace, in any medical facility. I was assured that everything was in accordance with the regulations," said the minister after the criticism she received. "In addition to being a minister, I’m also a woman and a mother who would never allow the health of any child to be put in danger."
Attention was drawn to Dolinková's photo after Vanda Chovanová, chief physician of the Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Medicine at the Children's Faculty Hospital in Košice, left a comment underneath the photo on social media. The doctor advised the minister to put on a disposable gown and take off her rings and watches next time to minimise the risk of infection in a premature baby.
After a wave of criticism, Dolinková removed the photo from her profile. The post about her visit was also deleted by Poprad hospital.
"The minister passed a hygienic filter before coming into contact with the newborn and at the same time showed no signs of an acute respiratory infection, and therefore, in our opinion, contact with her did not pose any risk for the newborn," said the hospital.
The patient whom the minister visited is in full health, the hospital added.
