With nine active cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Santa Rosa, in Region One, the community’s health care system is struggling to meet the needs of the patients despite it being the largest and most developed indigenous community.
Santa Rosa, which is a collection of at least ten settlements in the Moruca sub-district, is home to at least 10,000 persons.
Its first coronavirus case was recorded on May 21st, while the first and only casualty was recorded on May 22nd. Both cases are unrelated.
With the one death, that of Vincent Torres, there are now nine active cases in Santa Rosa, but according to relatives of the patients in isolation, the health care system has so far proven to be incapable of adequately caring for them. There is also fear that the situation could worsen if more persons test positive for the virus.
Sunday Stabroek was told that the isolation facility constructed at the community’s airstrip can only accommodate four persons. When the first case of coronavirus was confirmed, the patient was not isolated until one day later as the facility did not have toilets and bathrooms. As a result, the patient was placed at a guest house in the community, where he is currently being monitored.
A few days later, eight more persons tested positive for the disease and although the toilet and bathroom facilities were built, there was not enough room to accommodate them all. Up to yesterday, this newspaper was able to confirm that health officials were seeking accommodations for patients and even asked that they be allowed to occupy the secondary school’s dormitory but that request was denied.
As a result, the new patients were placed in the guest house where the first person is being isolated. However, according to relatives, when the patients arrived at the guest house, it was very dirty. A relative, who asked not to be named, told this newspaper that the patients volunteered to clean the rooms as they were not accustomed to the conditions of the room. “[Is it] because we are indigenous they think they can put us anywhere?” the relative questioned.
She noted that given the current situation, it seems as though health officials have not worked out anything in the Region. “Santa Rosa is the largest indigenous community. We have a hospital, we have doctors and nurses and yet nothing can be done right,” she lamented.
Additionally, this newspaper was told that the patients that are being isolated at the guest house were not given breakfast until 11.30 yesterday morning even though they had a very early dinner the day before. A relative said when breakfast was eventually served, the patient told her that the tea was cold and the bread was soggy.
She disclosed that she contacted the Regional Health Officer (RHO) so that he could address the situation and asked him if families can prepare food for their relatives in isolation so they can have proper meals. She revealed that he denied her request, while saying that the patients will be provided with sausages and eggs.
The woman argued that proper nutrition is critical for a patient’s recovery. She further contrasted the situation with what occurred with another relative who had contracted coronavirus in Georgetown and was subsequently placed in the isolation facility at Diamond. In that case, she said, they were allowed to send items, such as ginger and fruits, to the patient at Diamond via the Civil Defence Commission and asked why the same system can’t be put in place in Santa Rosa.
The woman said that all they are trying to do is help their loved ones. “If the hospital doesn’t have items such as fruits, vitamins, paracetamol, we can get it,” she said. She added that families should be allowed to supplement the diets if the hospital cannot adequately provide for the patients.
According to the woman, she told the RHO that they are not looking to blame anyone.
She added that he called and apologised for the situation yesterday morning but offered no explanation as to why the patients were not given breakfast on time. He also assured her that everything was okay but still refused to allow families to send various items to the patients. Further, she said, a mobile testing unit needs to be established in the community since a number of person had come into contact with Torres before he was taken to the hospital. She added that persons are already beginning to show symptoms of the disease but they cannot be tested due to limited testing kits in the area.
Attempts to contact the RHO were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, following protests by residents of the community yesterday, a planned lockdown announced by the Toshao on Friday is no longer to be instituted. Instead, residents have agreed to continue to abide by the restrictions implemented by the government.
The Santa Rosa village council had announced that a complete lockdown would be imposed on the community for two weeks from June 2nd due to the number of positive cases that have been recorded so far.
According to residents, all shops were to be closed and boat and taxi services were to be suspended during the lockdown.
