The bite of the scorpion kills people in Guyana

Aug 11, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
The Mabaruma sub- regional hospital (Barima- Waini) is desperately in need of medical drugs to treat patients bitten by scorpions and snakes, since it is a Hinterland hospital. On Saturday the 5th August 2017, little Keishon Campbell, four years old of the Mabaruma township was bitten by a scorpion which carries poison. The male child’s parents quickly rushed him to the Mabaruma hospital but unfortunately the hospital has no remedies for persons bitten by poisonous scorpions, neither snakes. The hospital tried to administer “saline” to the child but his condition worsened which led him to be air-dashed to the Georgetown public hospital where he died on the same day.
Can the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) say why Hinterland hospitals are not supplied with the drugs to treat patients bitten by scorpions and snakes which are poisonous? The MOPH is responsible for the child’s death and would be responsible for the deaths of hinterland patients bitten by the poisonous scorpions and snakes. But this is happening and the general public does not know about. This is not good at all. A post mortem (pm) examination will be conducted on the body of the little child on Wednesday 9th August 2017.
Now after the PM what is next? Will the Vice President and Minster of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Hon. Sydney Allicock and his Junior Minister Hon. Valerie Garredo-Lowe assist the child’s parents in returning to Mabaruma with the child’s remains to have a decent burial? In fact the only assistance given by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MOIPA) to the close relatives of poor Hinterland patients when they die in Georgetown is a mere $30,000. After giving this small amount of money to the relatives they are left on their own to do a poor or criminal burial for their loved ones who die at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). What is this poor or criminal burial?
It is just digging a hole at the cemetery in Georgetown, putting the body in a roughly made Coffin, placed in that hole and covered with earth. The grave will be unmarked. The question is; will an innocent four year old, Amerindian child form the Mabaruma Township be given a “poor or criminal burial” in Georgetown by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MOIPA) instead of assisting to take the child’s body back to Mabaruma for a decent burial? I am currently monitoring the situation.
Peter Persaud

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