Eleven-year-old Kushal Doobay of Third Avenue, Bartica, in Region Seven, has died as a result of dengue and pneumonia.
Speaking on Wednesday to the Stabroek News, Ajay Doobay, Kushal’s father, recounted the events leading up to his son’s death. Kushal first contracted the dengue virus last year. On Thursday, June 20, the boy became ill with symptoms that included a slight fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea. As his symptoms worsened, the family took him to the Bartica Regional Hospital on Sunday, June 23, and an x-ray revealed that the 11-year-old had contracted pneumonia.
Kushal was subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Sunday afternoon. Ajay recalled, “The doctors and nurses attended to his case, took a blood sample, and stayed with him throughout.” However, despite the doctors’ best efforts throughout the night, Kushal passed the following day, Monday.
Remembering his son, Ajay shared that Kushal was a very social and talented person who represented his school at various functions as he was an avid musician and was amongst the top five pupils in his school.
Kushal Doobay was a student of St Anthony’s Primary School in Bartica.
In an interview with Stabroek News on June 22, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony disclosed that the ministry had recorded some 18,581 dengue tests conducted since January, with 4,703 positive cases, 398 hospitalisations, and four deaths.
Earlier this month, a 22-year-old man, Karon Thompson died from the haemorrhagic form of the mosquito-borne disease, dengue fever.
There have been calls for the authorities to step up fogging for mosquitoes.
