A Canefield, East Canje Berbice man was killed, while another from the same village was injured following a recent attack in the National Psychiatric Hospital.
Ryan Satesh Sunthgolam, 41, of Lot 128 East Canefield, East Canje Berbice, was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was shortly after pronounced dead on arrival. Injured was Steve Lionel Roberts, 38, of Canefield, East Canje Berbice.
Regional Chairman David Armogan yesterday told Stabroek News that the matter was reported to the police and an investigation is ongoing. According to him, one patient pulled out a window and grill mesh, which he used to inflict the injuries on Sunthgolam.
While in the presence of the chairman, the Regional Health Officer Vishalya Sharma said that Roberts was injured during the same incident. However, when questioned about whether she had any idea what was used to inflict the injuries on Roberts, she noted that the police are still investigating.
Meanwhile, according to Sharma there was only one nurse in the ward at the time of the incident.
Armogan yesterday said that the authorities will have to look at putting more security measures in place at the location.
According to Sunthgolam’s sisters, the Friday before the incident they had to rush him to the New Amsterdam Hospital after he sustained an injury during an epilepsy attack in their backyard and sustained a cut to one of his feet.
One sister, Sandra Sunthgolam, said, he would usually receive treatment from the National Psychiatric Hospital, “So when we carry him they said they would take good care of him and we come home back.”
However, two days later they were informed that Sunthgolam had been referred back to the New Amsterdam hospital for treatment. “We heard that the boy get beat up… I don’t know what the fight was about but when they took statement from [an inmate] he say the boy hit his head into the mesh and he burst his forehead and he [the inmate] claimed that he [Sunthgolam] went into the washroom and he slide and he hit his head”, the woman said.
“When we go he had a hole in his head at the back, he was bleeding through his ears and they did bandage up his head. His eye was black,” she added.
According to the woman, her brother sustained a major head injury, which was later confirmed by the post-mortem examination, which showed that he died due to shock and haemorrhage from a fractured skull.
The sisters also questioned why their brother was placed in a ward with violent patients given that he was not violent. “He was at home. He was normal. And when he cut his foot they took him. My brother was easy going and never interfered with anyone. Why they had to put him in that ward?” she asked.
The family is extremely upset over the man’s death as it was believed he would be safe at the location.
Meanwhile, Ameena Haniff, also known as “Aunty Shamoon”, 80, an overseas-based Guyanese whose grandson had been admitted to the psychiatric hospital, told this newspaper that she is worried if her grandson returns to the institution then he might suffer the same fate at Sunthgolam. “When I go visit him the Friday, he sad and when I go back the Monday he say, ‘Ma them cover my face and tie my hand on my back and them burn me on my knee and foot’ so we go and meet a nurse and tell she.”
The elderly woman said she immediately discharged her grandson and brought him home. “Me ain’t want go back [overseas] because I’m worried [about] who will look him.”
The woman is calling on the authorities to look into the situation and hold those responsible accountable. “They need more security and nurse there”, the woman opined.
According to the woman, she took care of her grandson since he was a young boy. “Them doctors say nothing na wrong with he brain; one been even tell me to go bush doctor but he barely able talk.”
