Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud yesterday pledged to raise the case of Vanessa Lewis-Sahadeo, the Corentyne mother who died after an unsuccessful delivery at the New Amsterdam Hospital, at the level of Cabinet so as to have the matter thoroughly investigated.
The relatives of Sahadeo yesterday held a peaceful protest outside of the St. Francis Community Developers, where the minister was expected to give the feature address at a scheduled programme.
However, after arriving at the location, Minister Persaud ventured over to them and she spoke with Sahadeo’s parents and other relatives gathered.
“…Like them, I am very concerned because this government cares very deeply about the lives of mothers and children and we want to get to a point where no mother [or] child’s life is lost and I assured them that their concerns about the events which transpired I will take those to Cabinet and also the Minister of Health and we should have a thorough, professional and unbiased investigation to determine what were the sequence of events and why that young mother lost her life,” Persaud said afterward.
She noted that the outcome of such an investigation would help the family with closure and to be a “little more at ease.”
Persaud also said her ministry’s will look into the possibility of public assistance for the deceased woman’s children or to have them benefit from the foster care programme since their grandparents now bear the responsibility for them. “And also help them with some resources to get them into school. Today we gave them some hampers but we will be helping quietly because it is tragic, tragic situation and I don’t believe anyone should have to suffer that level of loss,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Persaud has also asked her officers to offer counselling to both the children and parents of Sahadeo.
Initially, the Regional Health Officer, Vishalya Sharma, had promised to ensure counselling is done but Sahadeo’s mother, Claris Cecil Lewis, has since indicated that the children were counselled for about one hour once some time before their mother’s funeral several weeks ago.
Both her and her husband Eric Lewis, 62, along with other relatives braved the morning sun on the protest line yesterday.
The elderly couple, who seemed somewhat defeated, said the minister spoke kindly to them and while she promised to take the matter to Cabinet they are not sure how they feel about this promise since they believe that a cover-up is ongoing. “She talked good to us and promise to take it to Cabinet but you know sometimes they come and talk and then you don’t hear back nothing”, the father said yesterday.
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony had announced that one doctor and two nurses were suspended while Regional Chairman, David Armogan had said that the doctor had returned to Cuba. “Based on what we heard the nurses still at the hospital but they haven’t identified these people to us so we can’t say it for sure but that’s what we are hearing,” Eric, however, noted yesterday.
The family is demanding a detailed report from the Ministry of Health which they insist should include the names of those who were found negligent along with other specific details discovered during the investigation. Further they are also requesting that Lewis-Sahadeo’s phone and clinic card be located and handed over to them.
They are also seeking compensation for Lewis-Sahadeo’s three daughters, who were yesterday apart of the protest as well.
