By Joseph Allen
Seven-month-old Oriya Gravesande, who died on Tuesday after being in the care of Little Learnings Day Care at Ogle, succumbed due to haemorrhage and suffocation by compression of the neck, an autopsy found.
The toddler from Success, East Coast Demerara was rushed to the Ogle Health Center on Tuesday after experiencing shortness of breath and becoming unconscious just after midday on Tuesday.
After being rushed to the health centre, an ambulance was called to transport the toddler to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) due to her serious condition.
The ambulance took Oriya to the GPHC and she was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
At the time of the incident, it was noted by an official of the daycare that the toddler had a cold, which stymied her breathing.
Stabroek News contacted the parents of the baby yesterday and it was explained that the child did have a cold but they do not believe that that was responsible for her death.
The family called for a full investigation into the matter. The autopsy on Oriya found that she died from haemorrhage and suffocation.
Questions have arisen about whether the facility had been approved for daycare operations.
Stabroek News learnt through the Childcare Protection Agency (CPA) that the Little Learnings Day Care was not officially registered under the agency.
It was noted that the owners are only just in the process of getting approval but continue to operate as per normal.
Daycare owners and early childcare providers are required to follow protocols set out by the Guyana Fire Service, and the Buildings and Public Health Unit of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council in order for them to be certified.
These include completing the CPA’s registration form, providing a valid police clearance, food handler’s certificate and medical certificate to be accredited. The documents must be submitted for the approval by the CPA before the centre can be licensed.
The centres are monitored by the Early Childhood Development Unit, which has responsibility for ensuring early childhood facilities including daycares, playgroups, home-based care and night care are providing quality service.
Operator of the facility, Eric Benn told Stabroek News that the business has been in operation for the past 27 years with no issue and only last week an inspection was carried out.
“Never before our, very first time”, Benn related to the reporters when asked if the day care have had any such incident since its existence.
Benn explained that when the inspections were done, the authorities made several recommendations and these the centre has been embarking on.
In an interview on Tuesday, the mother of the child claimed that she had fallen off the bed and became wrapped in a sheet and suffocated.
Benn did not comment on those claims but added that the question remains how the child suffocated and this needed to be answered.
Benn said that he is unclear what to do but said that is very sorry for what happened.
“Whatever it is I’m very sad, I’m very sorry over how that situation happen because if it was me I might have think the same way but I’m very sad.” Benn said.
A full investigation is being launched into the matter by the Guyana Police Force and other agencies.
