Fearing an outbreak of gastroenteritis following the death of two babies, a couple, whose seven-month-old contracted vomiting and diarrhoea, wasted no time in air-dashing her out of Wax Creek, Upper Mazaruni in Region Seven.
The baby’s father, Don Jacobs, 32, told Stabroek News that he had to pay a high cost a few days ago to get her out of the area, which lacks proper health care services.
The baby is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where her condition is being monitored.
Jacobs said that the only treatment the health post would administer are painkillers as no other drugs are available. Only one health worker is posted at that facility and ironically, it is the baby’s mother.
The baby was referred to the Kamarang Hospital but because of her condition and with the death of the two other babies, who had the same symptoms, the father said he did not want to take any chances.
Contacted, Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton told Stabroek News that he was not aware of a gastro outbreak in the area and he promised to check with the health officers stationed there.
Jacobs said he paid $27,000 to hire an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) to transport him, the baby and her mother to the Chi Chi airstrip and $36,000 in airfare to get to the city.
Wax Creek has a population of 240 and according to Jacobs, the health post is not adequate to serve them. The village came into existence in 1992. Meanwhile, Jacobs said the residents have an issue with a representative who would get a yearly subvention from the government for developmental works. The man has not done any work and residents are not seeing any development, he claimed.
