The Health Ministry has launched an investigation into the case where a baby suddenly died while being treated for a cold at the Health Center in Gaafu Alifu Gemanafushi.
An official from the Ministry confirmed to the Press that the Ministry was further probing the case. However, the official stopped short of providing any information about the investigation.
The child's father, Hussain Shahubad, said that his 7-month-old baby died after seeking treatment for a cold at the Gemanafushi Health Center.
He said after the initial visit, the doctor prescribed a nebulization session for the baby, and that the baby was active even after the nebulization session.
The father of the deceased child said that on the 15th of this month, the family rushed the child back to the hospital due to incessant crying, and that the doctor on duty injected IV fluid under pressure to draw out phlegm blocking the baby's nasal passage.
However, the father said that no phlegm came out after the IV fluid was injected, and the doctor repeated the procedure 5 times. He said that the 5th time, the IV fluid came out with blood.
It was reported that CPR was performed on the baby and was then transferred to the nearby Villigilli on a launch. The father of the child described that oxygen was only given to the baby once the child was taken into the transporting vehicle.
The child was given CPR at Villigilli Hospital as well and was transferred to Male' on the Air Ambulance the next morning. The baby was then shifted to the state-run IGMH, where CPR was performed on the baby for 45 minutes. The hospital declared the baby dead around 8 in the morning.
The Health Ministry is investigating the case, and the family has also reported the matter to the police. The family says the child died due to negligence of the Gemanafushi Health Centre.
