The relatives of Vanessa Lewis-Sahadeo yesterday reported to Stabroek News that they were told by health officials during a visit to their home that the woman who had had a still-birth on February 27th died at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.
Officials had previously said that Lewis-Sahadeo, 31, succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after being transferred from the New Amsterdam hospital where she had the still-birth delivery.
Lewis-Sahadeo’s relatives continued their picketing exercise yesterday in Region Six along the Williamsburg Village, Corentyne Public Road, the village where she is from.
Her father, Eric Lewis, 62, yesterday morning told Stabroek News that he believes that the government “could do lots better than what they doing” but that the relatives strongly believe there is some sort of cover up afoot.
At 7.30 am yesterday, Lewis noted that no official had reached out to them since Monday’s protest opposite the New Amsterdam Public Hospital despite their calls to have an open dialogue with the health officials so as to ascertain specific details about the investigation and findings.
The family is seeking an official and detailed report from the Ministry of Health, and they believe that criminal charges should be filed against those who were responsible for the death of Lewis-Sahadeo and her baby girl.
On Monday, Regional Chairman, David Armogan, who visited the relatives on the protest line had pledged to have a health official visit the family to speak with them. However, when contacted about this on Wednesday afternoon, Armogan stated that based on his promise, the ministry’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narine Singh who was present in Region Six for a programme at the Port Mourant Hospital, visited Lewis-Sahadeo’s relatives.
Lewis, when contacted after, explained that they were told that Lewis-Sahadeo had actually died at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. According to the father, they requested that the persons who were found negligent be identified to them but were told that the names were written in the report but could not be given to them.
Further, in connection with Lewis-Sahadeo’s cellphone which is missing, Lewis said they were told that the “wrong cellphone” was recovered during the investigation.
The father yesterday opined that no headway was made during the visit since many of their questions are still unanswered.
Dr Bheri Ramsaran, Advisor to the Minister of Health, yesterday at the Port Mourant Hospital when asked to comment, said that there is no “cover up” and that he would assume an investigation is still ongoing.
Meanwhile, another relative of Lewis-Sahadeo, Raymond Williams who witnessed the post-mortem examination on behalf of the family, yesterday explained that the autopsy had started without any representative of the relatives present in the room, but after Lewis-Sahadeo’s uncle protested and stated that the family would not accept the body after the procedure, Williams was allowed into the room.
Williams disclosed that after the autopsy the pathologist informed him that “they had to use a scissors to cut and something cut and that is what caused the plenty bleeding because she had a piece of cloth and a lot of pads in her which he (pathologist) took out.”
The pathologist also informed Williams that the woman was in desperate need of oxygen “and that the ambulance took too long to go but he cannot say why.”
Further, Williams, who said he has witnessed over 30 post mortem examinations, recalled seeing marks on various parts of Lewis-Sahadeo’s body as well. Describing the marks as “digs”, Williams added that the marks were visible on her arm, leg and face.
Meanwhile, Lewis-Sahadeo’s parents yesterday said that the woman’s three daughters are paying attention to what is happening around them, since they are of the age to understand certain things.
Lewis, the grandfather who the girls have been residing with, noted that the children most days sit and stare at pictures of their mother on their electronic tablets “and them start cry.”
Lewis-Sahadeo’s mother, Claris Cecil Lewis yesterday who broke into tears while standing with a placard in her hand, said she cannot imagine the “pain” her daughter endured during her final moments. “Every day I does cry for my daughter,” she said. The woman stressed that she will continue to fight for “justice” on behalf of her daughter.
Claris was the last relative to speak with Lewis-Sahadeo, as the young woman had phoned home to inform her mother that she was in the labour room and was expecting to give birth soon.
APNU/AFC Member of Parliament, Dineshwar Jaipersaud visited the protest for a few minutes said that he was present on “humanitarian grounds” since the situation is one which needs serious attention.
When asked to identify himself, Jaipersaud said, “… I am a resident of Port Mourant. I’m not holding any capacity as any political affiliation at the moment.”
He then called for persons in the “relevant positions” to ask themselves if this had happened to a relative of theirs how would they have wanted it to be dealt with. “… but because this person has no major representation that we want to transfer and close the issue, but I’m calling on the relevant authority to take the necessary action that the family will be satisfied that you have done something.”
Jaipersaud also questioned why the doctor in question was sent back to Cuba as he opined that relatives and Guyanese should have been informed about “what went wrong.”
“We have a lot of respect for doctors and nurses, we depend on them but when things like these happen it paints a bad picture on the health services,” he added.
The relatives also believe that the three children should be afforded some sort of compensation for their loss.
