Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence yesterday disclosed that her ministry has requested technical assistance from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to aid in the probe of the deaths of three children at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) after they were administered with chemotherapy treatment.
Since the deaths of Curwayne Edwards, Roshani Seegobin and Sharezer Mendonca, the GPHC has promised thorough investigations. All three children were paralyzed after being given the medication and they subsequently died.
This is the first time the minister is speaking on the matter since the deaths of the children two weeks ago. In a live video streamed on Facebook on the Department of Public Information page, Lawrence expressed sympathy to the families of the children and said that assistance from PAHO was sought in an effort to ensure there is transparency in the investigation.
The health minister said that she believes the representative from PAHO will be an asset to the investigating team as the person would have no connection to the public health system.
Lawrence during her interview did not divulge any information on the status of the investigation but said that the probe revolves around the drug used on the patients while in care of the GPHC.
New GPHC Director of Medical and Professional Services, Dr Fawcett Jeffrey is heading the investigation and is supported by GPHC’s Deputy CEO, Elizabeth Gonsalves along with professionals from the paediatric department. The team was put together by Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud.
The ministry has asked the investigating team to work assiduously in an open and transparent manner. Lawrence noted that while she would like for the matter to be concluded as soon as possible they will have to allow due process to take place.
In GPHC’s first statement on the deaths and hospitalization of the children, it had announced that it had discontinued the use of the drug which had been administered to the children who subsequently died.
A further statement on Sunday from the public hospital promised thorough investigations into the deaths.
“The Board wishes to also assure the families of Curwayne and Roshani, and the public, that equally thorough and transparent investigations will be conducted into the circumstances which led to their passing.
“The Board and the hospital Administration are adamant that the facts and truth must be established without any hindrance”, the statement said.
The statement also noted that GPHC Board Chair Kesaundra Alves met with the mother and relatives of Mendonca on Friday, 25th January and expressed her deepest sympathies and assured that they are taking steps to ensure thorough and transparent investigation will be undertaken.
“The GPHC is making every effort to ensure that these investigations are completed in the shortest possible time but we are duty bound to ensure that due process is observed to allow for thoroughness and completeness of the investigations,” the statement said while adding that they understand the extreme distress and pain the families are facing at this difficult time.
