UNFORTUNATE DENGUE DEATH AT HORANA

Hospital authorities had not diagnosed the young school boy’s ailment as ‘dengue’:

Had continued to give paracetamol:

The school boy had succumbed to ‘dengue’:


“The day after my 13 year old son was admitted to the Horana Base hospital with fever, on the second day he told me AMMAI, my stomach is puffed up, I feel very bad. The Staff in the hospital is not looking into my illness. I cannot bear any further. When we wanted to discharge him and take to another hospital staff told that now it is too late. Why did they say like that at the last moment?”
This shocking news was told by the mother of the deceased, 13 year old son Lahiru Chathuranga Godigamuwa, who expired on the 23rd of this month. He was a student of Royal College, Horana in the 8th year class. The dead boys had told that this death had occurred owing to the negligence of the parents. In contrary the hospital Staff says the death was owing to the negligence of the parents. Lahiru had been a very bright student in the class as well as in the Daham Pasela.
He had been admitted to Horana Base hospital on Wednesday the 19th of this month. He had fought against his death only for a period of just five days.

Lahiru’s father Leelaratna Godigamuwa had this to stay about this unfortunate death of his son.
“The hospital authorities were responsible for my son’s death. He went as usual to school on the 17th.It was on that day in the afternoon the school authorities had called home and told that Lahiru is ill. Immediately he had been taken from the school and had been taken to a private medical centre to take treatment. For a period of three days his fewer did not go down. Then on the 19th ,We admitted him to the Horana Base hospital. I pleaded to the nursing staff to take care of him. But they never cared much to treat him. His faeces were found to be black in colour. Every second he was becoming weaker and weaker. We brought and gave the hospital authorities three blood reports from outside. Still they could not diagnose the illness. When we questioned them they said there are two more reports that have to come.
When my son wanted to go the toilet in the night there was no nurse around when searched inside the hospital premises to obtain assistance. My sick son had to remove the saline equipment all by himself and go to the toilet. We seek advice from doctors as we are layman. We thought it is better to get him discharged and take him soon to another hospital. We had to find a private Ambulance to take him to Sri Jayewardenapura hospital. At that time the nursing staff told that now it is too late. The staff of Sri Jayewardenapura hospital immediately diagnosed his illness as ‘dengue’. The doctors and the nursing staff made a valiant effort to save his life. But it was too late, my son passed away”

Lahiru’s mother Dayani had this to say;
“We cried and worshipped the nursing staff of the Horana Base hospital to save their son. I asked what was wrong with my son. They never disclosed anything. When he was to be taken to another hospital they discouraged us, saying it was pointless and it was too late. He was ‘warded’ in the Horana Base hospital only for just two days. They could not say it was ‘dengue’. At Sri Jayewardenapura hospital they immediately diagnosed the illness as ‘dengue’, but he could only be treated for just half an hour. I cannot understand why the doctors and the nurses play with the lives of small children. They too should be having children?”.

When the Medical Director of the Horana Base hospital Dr Tamara Kalubowila was questioned his version was different:
“We are sorry about the child’s death. This death had occurred owing to the negligence of the child’s parents. At the hospital the doctors and the nurses had done their part. The necessary medical treatment had been given. The child was removed against the wishes of the doctors and taken to another hospital. A person having ‘dengue’ should not be moved. Hence the illness becomes greater.”
This may have been the mistake of somebody. However the dreaded mosquito snatched away the life of another valuable life after acquiring ‘dengue’. Lahiru’s death will not be forgotten by many easily.
Every morning he goes to school smiling with those in the neighbourhood pleasantly. This was a scene observed by the residents of Batugampola where Lahiru lived winning the hearts of everyone. His pleasant smile would not be seen for ever.


Story and photographs by B.k.Kathriarachchi