DOH probes babies’ death
FAMILIES REJECT AUTOPSY
The Department of Health (DOH)7 has opened an investigation into the death of two babies in Lapu-Lapu City whose parents are blaming the pentavalent vaccine administered to the children as the cause.
The vaccine was administered at the barangay health center last November 8. Three days later, the two babies died.
“Tanang mga detalye may kalabutan sa panghitabo ilakip kini sa gipahigayon nga imbestigasyon lakip ang pagbisita sa lugar,” said Dr. Sophia Mancao, Assistant Regional Director of DOH-7.
“Among tahas ang paghatag og immunization pinaagi sa mga health center ilabi na sa mga kabataan, pero sa resulta sa hinungdan sa kamatayon sa mga bata, mao kana ang amoa pa gihimoan og imbestigasyon,” she added.
Mancao said a team of doctors and medical staff is conducting the investigation. She said the result of the probe will be made public.
Despite the death certificates saying otherwise, the families of Ghirvaughn Mcreign Limpangog and Ayesha Mae Suson said the babies had high fever only after they were immunized at the health clinic in Barangay Pajac.
Because their condition worsened, they had to be brought to the hospital in Lapu-Lapu City and eventually to Cebu City where they passed away three days later.
Ghirvaughn was four months old while Ayesha was three months old.
Yesterday, Ghirvaughn's grandfather filed a formal complaint before the DOH on behalf of his family and that of the Susons.
“Maoy among tinguha nga maimbestigahan ang nahitabo sa akong apo ug aron wala nay susama niini nga insidente nga mahitabo sa laing bata tungod kay sakit kaayo para namo nga maayo pa ang panglawas sa bata sa akong paglakaw apan sa akong pag-uli nagluya na hinoon human gibakunahan,” said Ariel Igoy.
Igoy said they don't want an autopsy to be conducted on Ghirvaughn because they pity the child.
“Dili me makaako ipaubos siya sa autopsiya kay malooy me ilabi na dili pa namo madawat ilabi na akong asawa,” he said.
He asked the DOH for a fair and honest investigation. Ghirvaughn was supposed to be baptized this Saturday. Ayesha, meanwhile, is scheduled to be baptized in January.
“Sunod tuig plano namo unta pabunyagan siya kay makaginhawa-ginhawa na unta me, pero namatay man hinoon,” said her mother Len-len.
Ghirvaughn will be laid to rest today while Ayesha will be buried tomorrow.
According to the death certificates, Ghirvaughn died from meningitis while Ayesha succumbed to dehydration.
SPECIAL SITUATION
Mancao urged the public not to be scared about what happened because the same was but a special situation and that DOH remains committed to giving excellent health care.
“Dili sila angay mahadlok kay ang buhatan sa panglawas naniguro usab nga maayo ang pag-implementar sa mga programa nga makaayo sa tawo ug sa kabataan,” she said.
The city health office in Lapu-Lapu has denied that the vaccine administered on the two babies has expired.
Franilyn Igot, one of those attending to the center in Pajac, said they retrieved the vaccine from the city health office the afternoon before it was administered to the children last Wednesday morning.
Lapu-Lapu City health officer, Dr. Rodolfo Berame, said earlier the health office, which supervises barangay health centers, will cooperate in any investigation.
He said the pentavalent vaccine could not have caused the death of the babies. He said the vaccine will expire on June 30, 2018 yet.
Almost 90 children were immunized together with Ghirvaughn and Ayesha.