Social Services launches probe into baby’s death

Jun 09, 2012 News

– PM reveals cause of death as pulmonary aspiration

A post mortem examination conducted on the remains of the six-month-old Sophia baby, who died on Monday, last, revealed that the infant died of pulmonary aspiration; this is commonly referred to….when food or liquid “going down the wrong pipe”.
This newspaper previously reported that the baby had nothing to eat except a small amount of tea given to him by his older brother during the 24 hours his mother was absent from the home. According to a neighbour – who supplied the tea to the older brother – he told her that upon feeding the child with a small amount of tea, he regurgitated it and “he say how he drink de rest”.
“I am deeply saddened to know that we have lost yet another baby in a situation that could have been avoided,” said Director of Child Care Ann Greene, on Wednesday last.
Faced with the question of whether a social worker was deployed to work in the community, Greene responded, “Too much is being left for the agency to do. Child Protection is a job for the family, the community and professionals working together for the betterment and care of children all across Guyana.”
She said that there are not enough, and she does not think there will ever be enough social workers to tackle every situation that occurs in homes, so the Ministry will always need the assistance of citizens to effectively do its job.
“A neighbour shouldn’t go to bed knowing that the children next door didn’t get anything to eat,” she added.
Greene said that in cases like those, adult neighbours and community members could simply contact the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s hotline numbers and make reports of the situation so that the Ministry could be of assistance.
She said that the Ministry is now conducting its own investigation into the matter so as to protect the remaining children.
When asked what strategies will be implemented to limit the possibility of situations of this nature, Greene said that among other things, the Ministry will seek to raise community awareness and levels of responsibility for each child in the community.
The dead infant’s mother, Robin Moore, 30, and her 14-year-old son, are still in police custody while the remaining children between the ages of nine and one are staying with a relative who also lives in Sophia.
Police, on Monday evening, detained a Sophia mother of six in relation to the death of her six-month-old baby boy. Ranks that launched an investigation into the matter are of the belief that the infant’s death most likely resulted from starvation and neglect.
Moore told investigating ranks that she left her ‘E’ Field Sophia home on Sunday last around 17:45 hours in search of money. She said that she was forced to leave her children behind in the care of their eldest sibling, the 14 year-old.
She said that upon her return, 24 hours later, the baby, whose only name was given as “Two-Two”, was motionless.
Moore said that as she returned home she immediately went to the baby – who she thought was asleep, and began her failed attempt to breastfeed him. She later realized he was dead.

Latest News

Social Services launches probe into baby’s death

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 4th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

‘One Guyana’ 3×3 Quest Basketball opens with local teams in...

GCA, East Coast surge to huge wins

GFF/Concacaf kick off two-day Match Commissioners...

Chase’s Academic outclass Bartica to move...

Three Miles Secondary make clean sweep of Jagan...

National Chess champions off to Trinidad and...

Features/Columnists

This must not be our hour of humiliation

The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation

Security – Guyana needs it, pays for it

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Social Services launches probe into baby’s death

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 4th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]