The family of a 14-year-old Corentyne schoolgirl is demanding answers following her sudden death at the Number 75 Regional Hospital just hours after she was admitted for medical treatment.
The teenager, Varsha Narine of the Number 68 Squatting Area, Corentyne, was a Third Form student at Skeldon High School.
According to her mother, Devika Persaud, Varsha began suffering from severe stomach pains and diarrhoea on Saturday morning. Concerned about her worsening condition, relatives took her to the Number 75 Regional Hospital at around 9:00 hrs seeking medical assistance.
Persaud said her daughter was examined by doctors and nurses who administered medication, including injections and intravenous fluids, to treat her symptoms. The family was later informed that the teenager would be kept at the hospital for observation and further care.
The grieving mother recalled that she last spoke with her daughter shortly after 3:00 hrs on Sunday. During the telephone conversation, Varsha reportedly told her that she was drinking water before getting some rest.
However, approximately one hour later, Persaud received a call from hospital personnel asking her to come to the facility immediately. Upon arriving, she was informed that her daughter had passed away.
The family subsequently met with hospital officials on Monday in an effort to understand what led to the teenager’s death.
Persaud said they were told that several tests had been conducted, including examinations of her blood, heart, liver, and kidneys, as well as screening for dengue fever and an ultrasound, and that no major abnormalities had been detected.
“They told us all the tests came back okay, but if everything was normal, then how did my child die?” the distraught mother questioned. “We were told that only a post-mortem examination will be able to determine what happened. We are not satisfied and we want answers.”
Relatives say they are now awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination, which is expected to determine the exact cause of death.
