Baligham Health Centre: Couple wants justice on three-week-old death
A couple is seeking justice after their three-week-old daughter died in a suspected drug usage. On September 9, 2023, the newborn of Galabe Kingsley Sama, suffered from a flu attack and was rushed to the Baligham Integrated Health Centre for medical attention, “The child’s nostrils were cleaned up using salins. At this stage, my daughter was now fine. But to my greatest surprise, the nurse on duty who is also the assistant chief of post and wife to the Chief of Post, administered Ampicillin 1G. PCM 300mg. Dexa 4mg.”
After these injections were administered by Dula Relindis, the couple went home to observe the situation of their baby. The next day Sunday, September 10, they returned to the centre for the Doctor’s observation. The Chief of Post, Franklin Bomki Jaidze, added other medications for the baby, the couple told CNA.
“My wife and I took the child back to the health center to confirm our night observations which were quite a good one for the child…at this stage, he gave us the following: Amoxicillin tablets 250mg to be administered 1× 2 daily for a three weeks old baby- to be mixed with paracetamol syrup, not water. while trying to question him, he proved to be unquestionable. He prescribed Amoxicillin Syrup but gave us the tablet.”
These new medications were given to the child who started showing signs of pressure and negative reaction,”We went home and immediately we administered the drugs the child’s situation started changing. We tried to observe but by 9 pm on that Sunday the 10th of September 2023 the condition was not best till 3 am on Monday when I went back to the health center with the child for him to flush the drugs from the child’s system he didn’t give us any listening ear. This was the advice given to us by other medical specialists after my calls, rather he went on and administered another injection which caused the worst situation of the child till the last minute of her life.” Sama told CNA.
The said Chief of Post accepted his fault, but nothing concrete has been done to render justice to the couple.
On October 12, 2023, the disgruntled couple wrote a letter to the Divisional Officer for Santa Subdivision for his prompt reaction.
They have also brought the matter to the High Court in Mezam and the State Counsel. Meanwhile, the accused has failed to honor a Gendarmerie summons, on two occasions.
The couple thinks that an overdose and hard drugs was administered to the baby which destroyed her kidneys.
That law should take its course, for justice nothing more than.
Sama Kingsley
