Region Two Regional Health Officer, Dr. Ranjeev Singh has confirmed that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the circumstances that led to the death of six-year-old Jeff Boyan from a scorpion sting.
Dr. Singh said that the report should be completed by tomorrow and will be forwarded to the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Singh said that the investigation will be conducted by medical superintendent, Dr. Sheneer Reid and will include a visit to Wakapoa – where the child is from – to ascertain the details of the interventions completed by the Centre’s medical staff. The report will include recommendations which will be acted upon. The Wakapoa Health Centre is staffed with a senior doctor, midwife, pharmacy assistant and a community health worker.
According to information received, Boyan was stung by a scorpion on Thursday evening around 21:00 hours. Boyan’s mother, Jennifer Richards, related that when she contacted the doctor, she was advised to “observe” if any changes were occurring to the child’s body. Sometime later, the child began to vomit blood and he was then rushed to the Health Centre located about a mile away from the home. The mother said that upon examination, the doctor advised that the child be taken to Charity’s Oscar Joseph Hospital.
The family departed Wakapoa in a 75hp powered boat but with almost no visibility as it was dark. “We reach out like 6 that morning and we took him to Charity for attention,” the mother related. Doctors there immediately transferred the child to the Suddie Public Hospital where he succumbed. The mother said that her son was crying and begging her to stay. She said that she still cannot come to grips with how her son lost his life. The body is at a Suddie Funeral home awaiting a post-mortem examination.
