A team of officials from the Regional Health Services (RHS) department of the Ministry of Health will be visiting the Moruca Sub-Region in the coming days as part of a medical outreach as preparations are underway to have a Cuban doctor stationed at Moruca in the coming weeks.
This was disclosed by Regional Health Services (RHS) Director, Dr Narine Singh when contacted yesterday for a comment on the recent deaths of persons at Moruca after exhibiting symptoms of a gastro-like illness which has been recently affecting the area. Two persons passed away on Monday evening at Moruca after experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea. This newspaper reported yesterday that a 10-month-old boy, Troydon Thornhill of Kamwatta Village in the Moruca Sub-Region and pensioner Albert De La Cruz of Santa Rosa died on Monday evening after experiencing symptoms associated with the illness.
Singh told Stabroek News that the two died from causes not related to the illness. He said De La Cruz died from a heart attack while the child had a kidney problem. However, this newspaper was informed by the Toshao of Santa Rosa, Joseph De Souza as well as his deputy, Genevieve Ruffino that the two had died after experiencing symptoms associated with the diarrhoeal illness.
As regards the death of Calvin Charlie two Mondays ago and the subsequent passing of his mother Helena Charlie last week, Singh said that the 32- year-old man was dehydrated when he was taken to the Kumaka District Hospital.
He said the man was referred to the Suddie Hospital on the Essequibo Coast since the medex who serves that area was not competent to treat the man who subsequently succumbed to his illness. His brother Kenrick told Stabroek News yesterday that Calvin was not properly treated at the hospital at Moruca and he noted that his mother was in hospital for a few days prior to her death. Singh said the man’s 63-year- old mother may have died as a result of the mystery illness but pointed out that her relatives were reluctant to have her referred to the Suddie Hospital. This was disputed by her son who said that the hospital staff waited until his mother was in a bad state to refer her to the Suddie Hospital.
Singh said persons in the area are usually affected by diarrhoea and vomiting whenever the rainy season begins as residents there usually use water from nearby rivers and creeks for cooking as well as consumption. This, he noted, coupled with the reluctance of residents to seek medical attention at institutions in the Region is the genesis of the problem.
He told Stabroek News that a RHS team is currently preparing to visit Region One on an outreach to give additional medical support to personnel there. The team will also conduct routine testing of patients in the area. He said this is part of a countrywide operation whereby treatment will be given to persons as part of a response to established protocols. In this regard Singh said that persons who may have been identified with symptoms synonymous with those pinpointed by the World Health Organization as being related to the H1N1 flu will also receive the required treatment.
Basic sanitation
His advice to residents living at remote locations across Guyana is to follow basic sanitation rules such as the washing of hands before meals as well as the boiling of water used for consumption purposes. He also urged persons who have been experiencing any form of sickness to seek medical attention early before their situation worsens.
The RHS director also told this newspaper that a Cuban doctor will be placed at Moruca in the coming weeks and plans are afoot to have medical students who would have successfully completed their training in Cuba sent into outlying areas as well.
Another RHS official told Stabroek News yesterday that the team will visit areas throughout Region One but will concentrate its efforts on the Moruca Sub-Region for a one week period to further strengthen the medical capacity of medical personnel stationed in the area.
He said since that area was highlighted as a priority, the team will be conducting tests for various ailments experienced by residents there and medication will also be distributed to residents there.
Meanwhile, this newspaper understands that medication has been distributed on a daily basis at the Port Kaituma Hospital within the past few days to residents there for treatment of symptoms associated with various illnesses. A resident of Citrus Grove, Port Kaituma told Stabroek News yesterday that a number of persons have been visiting the medical institution at Port Kaituma to collect medication for various ailments including treatment for diarrhoea and vomiting. He noted that following the deaths of three persons within the past two weeks concerns have been raised by residents at Port Kaituma about their health.
The three person’s names have been provided as Roy Robinson, said to be in his 40s, Benedict Ipsam, 56, and a farmer known as Barjune. Two of the three men died at Port Kaituma while the third passed away while seeking treatment in Georgetown.
A resident told this newspaper yesterday that Robinson and Ipsam were his close friends and both men were in good health until a few days prior to their deaths. He said the now dead men lived at an area known as Four Miles and had been suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting prior to their deaths.
Earlier this month, Vice Chairman of the Neighbour-hood Democratic Council of Port Kaituma, Richard Allen told this newspaper that 15 persons had been admitted to the hospital in the area suffering from dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhoea but were discharged a few days later after being treated.
Allen said that all of the patients had been suffering from the same illness and posited that the ailment had to do with the sanitary conditions within which those persons reside.
He told Stabroek News then, that he knew of one man who died at his home after attempting to treat himself while another person passed away in Georgetown.
