Death of Goed Fortuin boy triggers ministry probe

Shemar Miggins

Top officials of the Ministry of Health have committed to investigating the sudden death of 15-year-old Shemar Miggins  on Saturday after being hospitalized three days earlier for a fish bone puncture of his left foot.

Miggins of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara died around 14:00 hrs on Saturday at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).

A report from the Government Information Agency yesterday called the circumstances of the child’s death “controversial” and Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran has dispatched Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Shamdeo Persaud and Dr. V. Brijmohan, Head, WDRH Medical Staff and other officials from Region Three to the institution with a view to launching an investigation into the matter.  According to the release, staff at the hospital made several attempts to resuscitate Shemar but these were unsuccessful. The CMO has ordered a Post Mortem Examination (PME) and this will be performed today.

Shemar Miggins
Shemar Miggins

Minister Ramsaran subsequently met with the grieving mother and an uncle of the dead boy, Clyde Anderson. The Minister said that the Ministry is committed to fully supporting the grieving family. He undertook to have a full, expeditious investigation into the incident.

“The Minister said that it was particularly distressing to have a preventable death occurring at the West Demerara Regional Hospital at this time since the MOH