A seven-month-old baby from Gaaf Alif Gemanafushi island has died as a result of alleged medical negligence.
On April 15, Ali Sha'af Shahbad was taken to Gemanafushi health center because of intense crying. His condition became worse that night and he was transferred to the atoll hospital in Gaaf Ali Villingili island. At 6:00 am on April 16, he was evacuated to Male' for emergency care.
The infant died while undergoing treatment at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) between 8:30 am and 09:00 am on April 16.
The baby's father, Hussain Shahbad, told Adhadhu that his son had a runny nose and was taken to Gemanafushi health center on April 11. Since then, the baby was taken to the hospital twice a day for steam inhalation.
But on April 14, the health center did not do the steam inhalation and sent the baby home after instructing to undergo tests the next day.
Ali Sha'af Shahbad.
Shahbad said the tests were done on the morning of April 15 and the baby was taken to the health center again that night due to intense crying.
Nurses found him unwell and brought a doctor to begin treatment. He said the doctor used a syringe to shoot IV fluid up the baby's nose.
"The doctor was shooting up water in his nose with a syringe. The fifth time, he did it on the right side and blood came with the IV fluid. Even the first time he did it, the baby started shivering. He kept getting weaker and weaker," Shahbad said.
He added that the health center concluded the baby was having an allergic reaction without referring to the results of the tests and gave him an injection. The baby's condition worsened with the injection and he began vomiting from his mouth and nose.
"Being a baby, there will be the vaccine, nothing else was given even after he got sick. The only injection was the one they gave on April 15," he stated.
"My son vomited so much from his mouth and nose, much more than an adult. After that, the people in the hospital began panicking when he was unconscious."
Ali Sha'af Shahbad.
The child became ill after the injection with no improvement. He was then taken to the Atoll Hospital in Villingili by a launch arranged by the family.
The child's mother, Aminath Riyaza, 36, told Adhadhu that the doctor gave the injection before making sure if there was an allergic reaction.
"The doctor administered the injection to the child without confirming an allergy. Then the baby vomited within seconds," she said.
The baby was evacuated to Male' by air ambulance on April 16 with instructions from Villingili hospital. Shahbad said the ambulance remained on the runway for two hours.
Citing officials at IGMH, the father said the baby did not have a pulse when they reached Male'. He was pronounced dead after about 45 minutes of CPR.
"They said vomit was stuck in the lungs and the veins, blocking the respiratory system. That the baby had died."
Ali Sha'af Shahbad.
Police have launched an investigation after the baby's death was reported to the Gemanafushi police station on April 18.
"The death of a seven-month-old baby was reported to the police on April 18 due to the alleged negligence of the Gemanafushi Health Centre. Police are investigating this case with relevant agencies," police said.
The Health Ministry has called the child's father to gather information. The baby was buried in the Male' on April 16, after noon prayers.
He was Shahbad and Riyaza's third child. The couple also have two sons aged 13 and 10.
Tragic incidents due to medical negligence have been increasing in the Maldives. In February, a woman and her newborn baby died after a C-section.
