-15-year-old in ICU
Region Six has so far recorded 440 dengue cases for the year with eleven in the last twenty-four hours and a 15-year-old is hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.
Yesterday, the region’s information officer confirmed the figures. Following the deaths of two children at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and three in total within the region, parents in Canje have expressed concerns about taking their children to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital despite them testing positive for dengue.
According to one parent who asked to remain anonymous, both of her children had developed fevers, however, after the reports of the passing of the two primary school girls at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital she decided to take her children to a private lab in New Amsterdam where they both tested positive for dengue fever.
The woman said that she is scared to take her children to the hospital and has opted to give them natural remedies in hopes of curing them. She stressed that she is keeping a close eye on them and if the need arises she will take them to a private institution.
Further, two other parents within the Canje area have told Stabroek News that their children are experiencing fever symptoms as well, however, they are scared to take them to the New Amster-dam Hospital given the current situation in the region.
Since last week Stabroek News has been trying to schedule an interview with Region Six Chairman, David Armogan on the dengue situation within the region to no avail.
Surprisingly, yesterday morning this newspaper was sent a recording from the region’s information officer with an interview from the chairman to which only one local reporter was invited.
In that recording, Armogan said that there has been an increase in dengue cases within the region as he pointed out that there has been a mosquito infestation throughout the region. “In every place basically, so what we are doing we are intensifying the fogging exercise we have started”, he said.
Armogan noted that at one time the region only had two machines, however, the Ministry of Health has assisted the region with four additional fogging machines “and so now we will have six in the system and so what we are doing now we are putting together, we only have four vehicles which we are using currently, we are looking for two additional vehicles to rent so that we can do more fogging in more areas.”
Armogan said that for this week the exercise will be focused mostly on the New Amsterdam and Canje areas given that “we have many cases coming out of Canje, as you know there was this problem in regards to the two children that died, we are not sure whether it was dengue related or what but as the Minister himself said that some stuff was sent to the pathology lab for further investigation and then a determination will be made in terms of that.”
“We seem to have more problems than any other region when it comes to dengue cases, don’t know if mosquitoes like Region Six but it’s a problem and we are trying to deal with it.”
He added, “But there is no question about it, there has been an increase in dengue cases for the last couple of weeks and you’re seeing an increase in children because over the last month or so we have had quite a number of children coming in with dengue at the hospital some were admitted, some were treated and sent home.”
Despite reports that parents are scared to go to the New Amsterdam Hospital, Armogan said that “parents are rushing to the hospital” once their children come down with a fever “they are not taking any chances.”
He encouraged parents and residents to get tested stressing that it is important “if you can pick it up in the early stages.”
Meanwhile, the two Canefield, East Canje Berbice siblings who died were yesterday laid to rest.
