The KHMH held its big press conference yesterday –where it was explained that a tragic mix of a virulent bacteria and, to a lesser extent, a breakdown in communication protocols were to blame for the deaths of seven newborns.
Watchdog group COLA today issued a release saying it
"is not satisfied with the answers provided by the head table."
COLA says
"the hospital has…failed to establish who, if anyone is responsible for the presence of the bacteria and the subsequent deaths."
And so, COLA is having an emergency meeting this weekend, and will host a press conference early next week. The statement says, quote,
"We remain committed to finding…a sense of justice for the families robbed of their loved ones in this tragedy."
Today, the Leader of the Opposition joined them on the point that there was nothing meaningful revealed in that press conference that is any comfort to the public.
Hon. Francis Fonseca - Leader of the Opposition
"It's a total disappointment - absolute disappointment. I think that really reflects the feeling of the Belizean people, I've heard from so many people over the last 24 hours who have said ‘what was the purpose of the press conference?'. Yes we heard a very long technical explanation from a very good doctor, Dr. Adrian Coye who I have a lot of respect for him and I like him personally, we heard a long technical explanation from him but there were no answers for the Belizean people. There were no answers for the mothers and families of the 12 babies who died at the Karl Heusner Hospital in a period of 20 days. No answers for the Belizean people, nothing to restore trust and confidence in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital - a very good hospital serviced by very good medical professionals, let me say that. 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 finding out why these babies died at the Karl Heusner Hospital. The Minister of Health had absolutely nothing to say, I found that absolutely disgraceful, it was shocking that the person who the Prime Minister of this country has put in charge of our Health Sector had absolutely nothing to say about this incident. The most serious challenge facing his Ministry since he became Minster of Health - absolute silence from him! We repeat our demand that he must resign and if he does not resign then the Prime Minister must remove him that is the only way that we will start the process of restoring trust and confidence in our health system."
Fonseca also pledged that they will work to keep this issue on the forefront of public consciousness.
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