A 31-year-old woman, Dawn Cobis died hours after delivering a baby boy via Caesarean section at the New Amsterdam Hospital recently and on Wednesday Director of Regional Health Services Jevaughn Stephens said an investigation has been launched into the incident.

The mother of two of Kimbia, Berbice River was laid to rest on Sunday. A post mortem examination was done on Friday last however a report is still pending. Additionally, body samples were also taken for further testing. Meanwhile, relatives expressed concerns about the baby boy who remains in the hospital and are hoping he can be released into the care of family members soon. They also expressed hope of finding out what led the death of Cobis as only then they will feel at ease.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday Stephens disclosed that the death of the woman is a setback for the Regional Health Services which had an unblemished record for the past five years as it relates to maternal deaths.

“We in Region Six are proud of our maternal records we have been maintaining for the last five years, zero maternal deaths. We are saddened to have one recorded. It is one of the worse things to happen in any health system so we will ensure all necessary statements are taken, all the necessary persons are properly informed. We would have received a medical report. We started collecting statements from the nurses and doctors these statements will be sent to the Chief Medical Officer who will review and conduct further investigations with the medical parties involved.”

Stephens said he is saddened over the incident but assured they will get to the bottom of it. He related that on Wednesday he received an official complaint from the reputed husband of the woman. He said in every case of a maternal death an investigation is immediately launched even without an official complaint from family members. “I met with the reputed husband today where we had a lengthy discussion on the way forward and at the end of the meeting he felt assured a proper investigation is underway and at the end of the investigation we will have all the facts on what transpired,” Stephens related.