Two women readmitted over food poisoning

Two women who were among over 100 food-poisoning victims at a Community Policing Group (CPG) retreat last Sunday in New Amsterdam were readmitted to the hospital yesterday.

The women, Padmini Geri, 40, and Homattie Sundar, 55, both of Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice had to be rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital (FWH) after their condition worsened.

Geri continued to suffer from abdominal pain, dizziness, weakness and was having a high fever. She was first admitted to the New Amsterdam (NAH) on Sunday shortly after the retreat with similar symptoms along with vomiting and diarrhoea.

Padmini Geri

The woman was discharged around 11 pm and the following morning the symptoms persisted and she was unable to walk. She was taken to the FWH and then referred to the NAH.

Yesterday, Geri’s husband, Seecharran Ramcharran was worried about her condition and was wondering who would compensate him for all his expenses including hiring vehicles.

He told Stabroek News that a CPG member called him on Sunday afternoon to inform him that his wife along with others who attended the retreat was affected by food poisoning and was seeking emergency treatment at the NAH.

He immediately hired a vehicle and went across to the NAH where his wife had to be taken to on a stretcher. Seecharran said he was there when his wife collapsed to the ground [even after being treated] and became unconscious.

A carpenter at Mahaicony, he was unable to work since the incident and turned out yesterday only to receive a call from his wife that her condition had worsened. He immediately hired a vehicle to go home and took her to the hospital.

In the case of Sundar, since she was discharged from the NAH on Monday she has not gotten relief. She said she was unable to eat and had to keep taking milk. She suffered similar to Geri, except for the diarrhoea.

Yesterday morning she contracted diarrhoea, other stomach discomforts such as cramps, dryness and numbness to her mouth and tongue and her heart was fluttering.

Homattie Sundar

Her sister, Rohini Hussain told this newspaper that she wants to know what steps would be taken now to help those affected and to deal with the persons responsible for preparing the food.

The women’s brother, Lokeindranauth Sukha, 56, of Bush Lot who was also affected was discharged from the NAH on Tuesday. But he was still not well and according to his sisters, his condition had gotten him irritable.

Over 100 persons were affected shortly after eating the meal of fried rice and chicken and had to be rushed to the nearby NAH for treatment.
Some 41 persons who were admitted to the institution were released on Sunday night and Monday morning.
About 52 persons from West Berbice were treated at the FWH up to yesterday with 15 being admitted so far.