Mayans protest P.G. Hospital after two infants die
Two babies from Punta Gorda died recently and the Mayan community is not remaining silent about what it sees as gross negligence by health care providers. In the first incident, Cenaida Reymundo gave birth at the P.G. hospital and neither doctors nor nurses came to her aid. That baby died at the K.H.M.H. on May nineteenth, seven days after birth. While that mother mourned, another Mayan toddler passed away, this time while undergoing treatment at the P.G. hospital after the parents were turned around by the authorities over a referral form. The tragic events prompted a peaceful demonstration today in hopes that the Ministry of Health would act quickly so that no more lives would be lost. News Five Jose Sanchez travelled to Punta Gorda this morning and files this report.
Jose Sanchez
“The heavens rained on Punta Gorda this morning but the torrents did not dampen the spirits of the Mayan people who are protesting the P.G. Polyclinic.”
Natividad Iko, Protestor
“I have seen many, many things happening in the hospital. I am very glad that have come together. This is a good thing that this is organized. All the ladies from Toledo should be demonstrating because all kinds of things are happening because we ladies, we face this thing in the hospital.”
The event was organized by Cristina Coc, activist and Director of the Julian Cho Society.
Cristina Coc, Director, Julian Cho Society
“The rains certainly affected the turnout but I’m very pleased. We got a crowd and they were marching in the rain. They didn’t care that it was raining. I think it was a big success. We’re not happy with the poor conditions here at P.G. hospital and the health care system in general. We have recognized that too many times people just don’t speak out about these injustices and it took the courage of a courage people—it took the courage of one woman, Cenaida, who said look I’m not gonna sit and take this. I will make the world know that I have faced an injustice. And with her courage, she has encouraged more people to stand out. We’ve had stories pouring out at us, telling us look this happened to me, this is what I went through and they’re horrific stories and so we felt that in order for the health care system to make a change; in order for professionals, health care providers like doctors, like nurses; in order for them to really understand what we go through, they need to see us stand out.”
One woman who stood out in the crowd was Cenaida Reymundo, the mother whose cries for help went unanswered while she gave birth at the Punta Gorda Hospital. Her baby died at the K.H.M.H. and she is fighting for change.
Cenaida Reymundo, Blames Hospital for Death of Child
“I know they can’t bring my baby life but also I could help someone who is pregnant and they go and deliver their child at the hospital not to happen the same thing that I happen because it’s really hard what happened to me. I ask my God to help me and he really is helping me a lot. I want them to be fired because if they continue being there because they don’t have enough nurses and enough doctors, they will be continue doing the same thing right. They are doing this for twenty-one years or more probably right. This is not right to mek they continue do this because they don’t have enough nurses or enough doctors. I want them to be fired iregardless of what.”
Jose Sanchez
“Are you here as a private individual or are you here as a political aspirant?”
Carolyn Trench Sandiford, Chairman, Peoples United Party
“I am chairman of the Peoples’ United Party and that is a position I am very proud of, but I am also here as a person, as a human being. I think what has happened at this hospital, to my mind is a shame, it’s a national disgrace and I think that our people need to come together more. And we’ve had a history I think in Belize of over the past couple of years of coming together on important issues of national interest and I think this is one of those issues.”
There is a growing trend in the Mayan community for pregnant women to employ midwives. Magdalena Pop, a mother of four, says she is not going to the clinic to deliver her fifth child.
Magdalena Pop, Protestor
“I going to my midwife.”
Jose Sanchez
“Why do you prefer the midwife rather than the health clinic?”
Magdalena Pop
“Because the nurse sometimes, dehn noh mind ladies when dehn di have wah baby and dat’s why better we try a midwife to see us.”
Cenaida Reymundo
“Whenever I have another child I was thinking to hire a midwife instead of delivering my baby in the hospital. I know a lot of people are afraid to come out because the nurses will not attend to them at the hospital, which is not true. Why? Because we need to come out and support us and knowing and telling us that we care. We care what they are doing.”
Ophelia Sho, Midwife
“They prefer to do their births at home. Many of them don’t want to come back to the hospital. They say they prefer to die at home rather than go to the hospital to get that kind of treatment.”
Cristina Coc
“The P.G. hospital has now become downgraded to a polyclinic. And that has caused a tremendous amount of confusion because when you go to the polyclinic, they are asking people for their social security card, they ask for all the paperwork before they deal with an emergency. I don’ think they are equipped to deal with an emergency. At the same time at least provide some kind of aid, some kind of compassion to the people who are reaching out for the service. Compassion is not something you learn in a formal education setting, it’s something that you feel from the heart. And as a health care provider, as a nurse you should demonstrate the highest level of compassion.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
