A heartbreaking tragedy has struck a family following the death of their six-month-old son, Samisoni Vana Ratuvou, fondly known as Yaca, who passed away from dehydration after what his family describes as inadequate medical care. The devastating situation unfolded when Yaca fell ill with diarrhea on a Sunday, prompting the family to seek urgent medical assistance.
On Monday morning, they arrived at Qarani Health Centre, only to find it closed due to a water disruption. Frustratingly, the family reported that no proper examination was conducted, no intravenous fluids were administered, and they were sent back to their village with merely two bottles of Panadol. As the day progressed, Yaca’s health deteriorated, culminating in shortness of breath by evening.
In a desperate attempt to save their son, the family returned to the health center late that night, but their efforts were in vain. A postmortem confirmed that dehydration was the cause of death. Expressing their heartache and anger, the family stated that timely medical intervention could have potentially saved Yaca’s life. “Our hearts are shattered with grief, pain, and unanswered questions. This should never have happened,” a relative said.
The family is now calling on the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to urgently enhance healthcare facilities, staffing, resources, and emergency services, especially in remote communities like Gau. They emphasized that every life matters and asserted that access to quality healthcare should be viewed as a fundamental right, not a privilege. Their hope is that by bringing attention to this tragedy, they can help ensure that no other family has to endure a similar loss.
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