Francis Fonseca calls for head of Minister of Health and independent investigation into neonatal deaths at K.H.M.H.

On Thursday, the K.H.M.H. Board of Governors, Management and the Prime Minister Dean Barrow sat at the head table of a press conference. It was to provide an update on the tragic deaths of thirteen newborns in one month after a week of intensive investigation. But the reality is that there was nothing new reported, nobody took responsibility for anything and the official mood seems to be – it happened, and they did their best. There was no comfort to the families or the public so far coming out of the investigation in which the hospital is investigating itself. The press conference was lukewarm at best, but the response on the airwaves was anything but. This morning, Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca reiterated his call for the head of Minister of Health, Pablo Marin, who was present at the conference but offered no explanation, condolences or comment. He also called for an independent investigation.

Francis Fonseca, Leader of the Opposition

 “Total disappointment absolute disappoint and I think that really reflects the feeling of the Belizean people. I’ve heard from so many people in the past twenty-four hours I think. They have said what is the purpose of the press conference. There were no answers for the mothers and families of the twelve babies who died at the K.H.M.H. over a period of twenty day. No answer for the parents; nothing to restore trust and confidence in the K.H.M.H; a very good hospital serviced by very good medical professionals. But nothing, there was nothing there for the Belizean people to hold on to and say well yes we understand what took place. So we have gotten no further to find out why these babies died at the K.H.M.H. The Minister of Health had absolutely nothing to say, I found that to be absolutely disgraceful. The person the prime minister of this country has put in charge our health sector had absolutely nothing to say about this incident. The most serious challenge facing his ministry since he became the Minister of Health: absolute silence from it. We repeat our demand that he must resign and if we don’t resign, the prime minister must remove him that is the only way we will start the process of restoring trust and confidence in our health system. We need an independent investigation into what took place there. There are many good persons outside of the K.H.M.H. who are able to come in and provide an independent analysis of what happened there. It is not about pointing fingers and finding blame. It is about ensuring that we find out exactly what happened, why it happened, if there are people responsible; but most of all, it is about ensuring that this does not happen again.  We will not let it rest, we more serious challenge facing and if he does not resign, we will continue to raise it publicly, we will continues to raise issues with this government on the pa  because the more serious challenges facing his energy since he because the minis year. We will not allow this matter to rest. We will continue to raise this popularly, we will continue to rate it public. We will continue to raise We will continue to raise the government. We will continue to raise issue with the government on this matter. I am totally disappoint with the responds of illegalities..we know that allegations took place and he has to address it as the minister of gial.

The hospital says that the first among the seven deaths from the nosocomial bacteria, enterobacter cloacae, was on May tenth. Ninety-two percent of the thirteen deaths were among premature babies.