Another death reported in district hospital
ANOTHER child has died in a government hospital in southern Cebu.
Four-month-old Brian James Pinote died at the Barili District Hospital on Friday of acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute gastroenteritis, and infectious diarrhea with moderate fever dehydration, based on the death certificate.
The baby’s grandmother, Saturnina Mari, was quick to blame two nurses who allegedly ignored her complaint that the baby had trouble breathing.
She said hospital chief Dr. Jose de Leon, Jr. has promised to conduct an investigation.
“I want those two nurses to be taught a lesson. They don’t know the meaning of true service especially to the poor,” the grandmother said.
Neither of the two nurses were in the hospital when Cebu Daily News called yesterday. Calls to Dr. Cynthia Genosolango, head of the Integrated Provincial Health Office, were not answered.
Mari said they brought the baby to the government hospital on Thursday afternoon because of diarrhea. The baby had his immunization shot the previous day and was also running a fever.
Mari said a certain Dr. Rene Gandionco advised confinement due to loss of fluids caused by diarrhea.
At 7 a.m. on Friday, Mari said a nurse arrived and gave her grandson Biogesic syrup. The boy smiled at his grandmother.
“As I saw my grandson’s smile, I was relieved. I really thought that he was better,” Mari told CDN.
“I was even happy that my grandchild was able to drink that syrup and prayed to Mama Mary for the recovery of my grandson,” she added.
About four hours later, the boy was dead.
When the nurse left, Mari said another came in and administered oxygen to the baby through a nasal cannula.
Mari said she asked the nurse why there was need for oxygen. The nurse allegedly answered, “Para tabang sa ginhawa (to help him breathe).”
When the second nurse left, Mari said she noticed that her grandson had difficulty breathing and ran for help.
“I was worried and afraid,” the 53-year old grandmother said.
She happened upon another nurse and told her about her concern.
The nurse allegedly answered her, “Ma’am, okay ra to. Tabang to para ginhawa (Ma’am, it’s okay. It will help him breathe).”
She went to find the nurse who administered the oxygen and told her about the baby having difficulty breathing.
“I almost knelt before her but she did not mind. It was the same answer (tabang to para ginhawa) that I received from her,” she added in Cebuano.
Another nurse brought her to the nurses’ station, where she was given the same assurance.
It was only when a doctor arrived and ordered that the baby be brought to the emergency room (ER) did the nurses attend to the boy.
“I was shocked when a nurse told me that my grandson will be referred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC),” she said.
The transfer didn’t happen because the baby died at 11 a.m. on Friday.
Cebu provincial officials have assured that measures are being taken to prevent more deaths in district hospitals.
An infant died of dehydration earlier at the Minglanilla District Hospital after hospital personnel failed to immediately administer intravenous fluids.
The death of 4-year-old Jense Tuballa also at the Minglanilla District Hospital last October was reported by the media after the boy’s mother said the attending doctor gave the wrong prescription.
In Tuburan town, a public school teacher died last month at the Tuburan District Hospital after she was given expired insulin.
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