Health Officials in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) are refuting the claims of misconduct made by the family of the second COVID-19 fatality which occurred at the Bartica Regional Hospital.
In a statement through the Regional Democratic Council for Region Seven, the hospital officials including the Regional Health Officer and Deputy Regional Health Officer, Dr Edward Sagala and Dr Julian Clementson along with Medical Superintendent Dr Jillian Apple-Jardine, who officially reported the second COVID-19 death from the town of Bartica, said they wished to “clear some misconceptions surrounding this situation raised by the family of the deceased to the media.”
Fifty-five-year-old Roger Martindale last Tuesday became Guyana’s 20th COVID-19 death and Bartica’s second fatality as a result of the virus. The Public Health Ministry however, only acknowledged Martindale’s death three days after he passed.
A statement by health officials from Region Seven informed that the patient was admitted to the Bartica Hospital on July 19 and died two days after. It was stated that the man was admitted and experiencing respiratory symptoms even as he had other underlying conditions which they noted made him a high-risk patient. “At no time was he placed with other COVID-19 patents, but was isolated as a suspected case,” the health officials said.
It was emphasised that a sample for testing was not taken after the man died, but rather, taken from the patient while he was alive, just one day after he was admitted. The body of the deceased had to be taken to the mortuary immediately after confirmation of his passing as he was a suspected COVID-19 case, which the officials said is standard procedure.
The officials insist that the results of the deceased man’s test which indicated that he was COVID-19 positive were received the day after his passing on July 22, late in the afternoon. “Numerous unsuccessful attempts were made by doctors Clementson and Jardine to contact the family during the night so they were informed the following day July 23, 2020, at 10:00am.” Subsequent mandatory contact tracing was done which resulted in family members being tested for COVID-19.
The statement also acknowledged that such burials can be carried out by family members and noted that the family was provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) to handle the body and were advised on World Health Organization Protocols for the burial of COVID-19 positive persons. They further noted that Medical Superintendent Dr Jardine also met with the deceased’s older brother to ensure that the family understood how the burial should be conducted.
“While we fully understand the pains and emotions surrounding any death of a loved one, we also wish to point out that accusing the institution of neglect is rather unfortunate, unnecessary, demoralizing and unhelpful”, the statement said.
Martindale’s family had previously related to Stabroek News that his samples were taken after his death and were returned on Thursday. The deceased’s sister, Joanne Benjamin stated that she and other relatives do not believe that he died from COVID-19 as he was previously diagnosed with tuberculosis and they have an x-ray, “that shows us that his lungs eat out and one side gone,” she said.
Benjamin had said that they were disappointed in the manner in which her brother’s death was dealt with. “Another thing, if my brother die from corona, them ain’t even supposed to give us the body. Why you give us the body to bury? It hurts me to know that I have to go through all of this because of my brother death,” Benjamin said.
