Health Ministry looking into death of 2nd baby this year

The Health Ministry is now investigating the death of a second baby in the first half of this year.

Health Minister Jone Usamate says he is waiting for a report from the doctors involved and will be able to comment on the issue once he has all the information.     

Priya Devi was shocked when she was informed by the doctors at the CWM Hospital that her day-old baby girl had suddenly gotten very sick and had passed away.

This incident happened on the 16th of this month.

The 28-year-old mother says her child was healthy and she was feeding her baby when an intern doctor asked to take the child out for some time to play with her.

Devi says she was later informed by the doctors that they had to admit the baby in the Intensive Care Unit as the child’s heart rate was starting to slow down.

The mother was informed by the doctors at 4am on June 16th that her child had passed away.

The parents say they can’t understand how a perfectly healthy baby can suddenly die.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Health has completed the investigation into the death of the nine-month-old baby who died at the Nausori Health Centre.

Assistant Minister for Health Veena Bhatnagar earlier said she had explained to the family in a meeting that there was a short fall in the hospital’s customer services and they will definitely strengthen the Emergency Department at the CWM hospital.

The parents of the 9‑month‑old baby had taken their child to the CWM Hospital on the 26th of April as the child was vomiting.

They claim that the doctor did not see the baby despite repeated requests.

They later rushed their child to the Nausori Health Centre and the baby died at the centre.

The family is planning to take legal action as they are not satisfied with the explanations given so far.