Police investigate death of a 14-year-old found lying in her bathroom in Savusavu

Police are currently investigating the death of a 14-year-old girl from Savusavu who was found lying in her bathroom yesterday afternoon.

Spokesperson Jokatama Qio says the parents came home and found the girl in the bathroom.

Qio says they are now awaiting the post mortem report before establishing what happened as the parents are claiming that girl died after getting an injection at her school.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that it is aware of the case involving the death of the Year 8 student after she received the Human Papilloma Virus or HPV injection from visiting nurses at Khemendra Primary School in Savusavu.

The ministry offers sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family for their loss and will wait for the Police investigation report before commenting on the detail of this case.

It further says that the HPV vaccine protects against cervical cancer, which can be a major killer of women.

The Health Ministry says studies show that there are no serious safety concerns associated with HPV vaccine.

It says that according to the United States Centres for Disease Control, one of the world’s leading medical authorities, “HPV vaccine is very safe, and it is effective at protecting against some HPV types that cause cancer.”

The Health Ministry says side effects reported in the studies conducted on the vaccine are mild.

They can include pain where the shot was given, fever, dizziness and nausea ‑ similar to minor side effects seen with other vaccines.

Those vaccinated are monitored for 15 minutes after having the vaccine.

The Ministry emphasises that the vaccinations are safe and protect against potentially deadly diseases.

It strongly encourages everyone to be vaccinated for their own benefit and the benefit of the wider community.

The Health Ministry says while the news from Savusavu is very sad, it must not put anyone off from being vaccinated.

The Ministry has also requested that media organisations act responsibly and do not use this tragic case to stir up unnecessary concern among the population.

The father of the student, Jeswan Prasad says his daughter started feeling sick after getting the injection and collapsed in the bathroom at home yesterday.

He says they took his daughter to the hospital but it was too late as she passed away.

Prasad says they are now awaiting the medical report.

The parents have also filed a complaint with Savusavu police and have met with the Legal Aid Commission to consider the legal options they can take.

Education Minister Doctor Mahendra Reddy says that ministry staff are talking to the family and police are investigating the matter.

Doctor Reddy says he does not think it's appropriate to link the death to the injection as yet.

He says the school reports that the student was perfectly normal after the injection. 

The minister says the injection was given at around 12.30pm.

Doctor Reddy says since then, her classmates and teacher say she was normal and lively.

He says that the experts will determine the cause.

The education minister says that this incident is rather unfortunate and the pain of the loss is only known by those who have lost their child.