`…when them give she the injection the child never recovered back’
A Canefield Settlement, East Canje Berbice couple is now mourning the loss of two children within days at the New Amsterdam Hospital and they are calling for a thorough investigation to be carried out.
Kumar Mohabeer, 33, father of Vishnu Mohabeer, also known as ‘Ricardo’, 10, and Arianna Mohabeer, 9, explained that last Sunday he left for work and his son was lying on the bed. “The last word he tell me that he okay and before I reach Rose Hall I get the call that he take in and when I come before them reach hospital he pass away.”
According to the father, about one year ago his son began to fall ill with fever and he would take him to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where “them say them na find none complain on he but them does say he blood count low and when you ask how he blood count low them na find no complain.”
Mohabeer said that over the last ye2ar his son had not experienced any fever-type symptoms. “On Saturday he go Port Mourant and we buy a set of stuff, we buy a bicycle and a phone and then Sunday this happen to he… He went good is not like he sick or had fever.”
A post-mortem examination carried out on Mohabeer revealed that he died from splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen).
A distraught Mohabeer relayed that it was his daughter who discovered his son unconscious on the bed which led to them rushing him to the hospital.
Following the incident, the father said Arianna developed a fever and she kept asking for her brother on Sunday evening. As such they decided to take her to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.
“She get scared and after she get lil fever we take her and them admit her and take her to the ward and the child was good. Monday morning the child come out and swing on a rocker, them have a rocker in the hospital back and the child come out and a play and then when them give she the injection the child never recovered back.”
According to the father, after being administered the injection which they were eventually told was an antibiotic, Mohabeer said, “after that the child get weak…”
He said they were initially told that Arianna had dengue fever and malaria, however after she passed away “them telling we something else that the child get some sick in she lungs, that water go touch she heart.”
The emotional man said that he was extremely close with his children who both attended the Cumberland Primary School. Vishnu was slated to write the upcoming Grade Six examination, “He (Vishnu) start doing well and plus my daughter was doing very well and he picking up a real lot, he start doing well. Them real helpful kids, anywhere I deh them deh and them a go with me and helping. If I want anything them a come and give me, I get three children and now only my baby left alone, loving children.”
Meanwhile, Mohabeer said that health practitioners at the hospital told him to take his three-year-old son for “testing” at the hospital but he refused to after what transpired with his daughter. “I want justice for my daughter cause I know my daughter went there good and I told them I’ll take my daughter out and when I went there yesterday to do PM (post-mortem) with my son them take her to ICU so we could barely see her.”
Mohabeer’s wife Rehana Persaud had been in a state of confusion since the passing of her son as such she was unable to be at the hospital with her daughter. The woman’s sister, who was present at the hospital, Shivanie Heralall yesterday told this newspaper that efforts were being made by the regional hospital to transfer the child to the Georgetown Hospital.
Ambulance driver
Detailing an experience at the way in which workers at the hospital operate, Heralall said she was abused by an ambulance driver. “Remember a parent have to go with the child and when he (ambulance driver) hear the parent coming he start behave and get on that when the nurses ready he na get time to wait on anyone and that he gonna go away.”
Heralall said that they were shocked that despite the circumstances someone at the hospital could behave in that matter. “If you see how he get on, that he na get time for all that and them nurses na been ready. I just tell he the parent coming cause them have to go and he start get on that he na get time to wait on no one.”
The aunt added, “I was there when they give her the injection she start behave like she catch fits and twirl up her eyes and hand everything, I never see a child behave so.”
Meanwhile, a statement yesterday from the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six said that the management and staff of the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital were deeply saddened by the deaths of the children.
According to the statement, “while preparations were being made to transfer the patient (Arianna) to the GPHC the child suffered a cardiac arrest and died in the Intensive Care Unit.”
The statement noted that Vishnu “was brought into the hospital on Sunday, April 14, 2024, with no sign of life. Both cases are presently being investigated and have engaged all relevant authorities.”
“We remain committed to the welfare of the family and committed to providing all assistance to the family during this difficult period. The Ministry of Health has been (apprised) of the circumstances and all relevant reports have been forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer. The Ministry of Health has instructed that an expert group be dispatched to the New Amsterdam Hospital to further investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two children”, the statement added.
