Mother, unborn child dies at Suddie Hospital; doctor blamed
The death of a mother and her unborn child at the Suddie Regional Hospital, Essequibo has been noted by the women’s arm of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the Party has since called for an “urgent and detailed investigation into the death.”
Dead are 25 – year – old Bavanie Rampersaud and her unborn child. In a media release, the Party said its Women for Change Arm was informed that Persaud visited the hospital on December 29 after experiencing abdominal pains and fever.
She was seven months pregnant at the time. According to the family, Persaud was seen by a young female doctor who prescribed an injection which was duly administered; she was then sent home.
While at home, Persaud’s symptoms worsened and she reportedly informed her family that the injection may have killed her unborn child as the baby had stopped moving.
It was noted that at around 16:00 hours on December 30, the woman’s husband took her back to Suddie Hospital where it was confirmed that the baby died.
At around 19:00 hours, the baby was delivered still-born but according to the AFC, the doctor on duty failed to remove the placenta (afterbirth).
The release stated that, “from her death bed, Persaud told her family she was dying even as her family encouraged her to hang on while they attempted to get the doctor to do something to save her life…The family reported that from the time of delivery Persaud started hemorrhaging but it was not until 14:00 hours that she was returned to the operating theatre by which time it was too late to save her.”
The media release noted that a senior doctor at the Suddie Hospital questioned the delay in operating on Persaud. The woman’s family members had also donated blood after they were told that the hospital did not have.
The AFC says it has repeatedly highlighted the inadequacies within the public health system and in particular, the conditions at the Suddie Hospital.
“Too many young women die during child’s birth under questionable care.”
The woman leaves to mourn two young daughters, husband and other family members.