(Trinidad Guardian) The Government is failing citizens in the fight against dengue, says St Augustine MP Khadijah Ameen. She said this as she spoke about T&T’s latest dengue victim, 18-year-old Chayenne Sahadeo, of Carapo Village, who died last week after contracting the virus.
Ameen told Guardian Media that several residents in Carapo had contracted dengue, including one of her relatives.
She said there was a dengue crisis and the Health Ministry was riddled with shortcomings.
Ameen said, “I live at Carapo and several residents, including my own brother, contracted dengue. The area has not been sprayed despite numerous requests. I attended the wake and funeral for Chayenne and I’m advised by her relatives that she died from dengue.
“Government continues to fail citizens in the fight against dengue. There is a dengue crisis and the Minister of Health refused to acknowledge how dire the situation is.
“The Insect Vector Control division falls under the Ministry of Health and there is severe understaffing and lack of resources including chemicals, machinery and vehicles.”
Sahadeo’s funeral was held under Hindu rites on September 1.
Ameen said, “I passed here a night, the wake was going on and said, ‘Oh it’s somebody’s birthday.’ The next night I passed again and saw people two nights in a row and thought, ‘like it’s wedding’, not knowing a child had died.
“We had so many people, my neighbours, my brother as well who had dengue. And you know you just think that when someone get dengue, they’ll get better.
“So, for her at such a young age to lose her life, I hope that this is an opportunity for all of us even those who are not family members within this village, even if we fall out with each other, let us live good. We are in times when we are seeing so much sadness, so much death.”
During the funeral, Sahadeo’s relatives described her as beautiful, loving and the life of the party.
They said she loved singing, dancing, make-up, fashion and baking.
Sahadeo attended the Carapo RC Primary School and Johnson’s Finishing School. Sahadeo was preparing to begin a baking course this month before she died.