Following the maternal death of 29-year-old Hotoquai, Region One resident Orian Williams, the Ministry of Health is once again resounding its plea to women to join the nearest antenatal clinic during their pregnancies.
Williams succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Thursday night, shortly after being air dashed from Mabaruma following the unsuccessful delivery of her premature twins followed by haemorrhaging at her riverrain village home.
While pointing out that he would have to wait to see the specifics as they related to Williams’s case, Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsarrn noted the importance of antenatal clinics. “It is part of the battle we face and [a] culture [we must] change as in some of the cases the women would not attend antenatal clinics,” he said.
Williams lived in the Amerindian village of Hotaquai, in the Aruka River, which is some 20 miles from Kumaka.
A relative of Williams explained that she went into labour at home and delivered the premature stillborn twins. She then began haemorrhaging and was rushed to the village heath centre from where she was immediately transferred via boat to Mabaruma. This paper understands that the river terrain was rough and added to her blood loss complications.
A mercy flight was summoned by her attending physician at Mabaruma Dr Nigel Langhorne. The doctor, the relative said, “tried his best with her but she lost too much blood.”
Stabroek News was told that the doctor accompanied the woman on the medivac flight to the capital where an ambulance was waiting at Ogle.
The Health Minister confirmed Williams’ state and events leading to her arrival in the city. He informed that the ambulance that was waiting immediately transfused blood to an already weak Williams. However, some 20 minutes after her arrival, despite “valiant efforts by the GPH medical team” the woman succumbed.
Nonetheless, an investigation report has been launched, according to legislation, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the three deaths.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Shanti Singh has been put in change of that process and is expected to deliver the report soon.
He said that plans are currently underway to once again begin sensitisation and edification exercises on the benefits of antenatal care.
