— as report on death of two other young patients expected by weekend

Six-year-old Sherezer Mendonca is still in critical condition as she continues to battle Leukemia amid an investigation launched at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) into the deaths of two other young cancer patients.

Aunt of Mendonca, Azeena Bakraj, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that the young girl’s heart rate was around 57 beats per minute (BPM) and she is still unresponsive.

For children ages six to 15, the normal resting heart rate is between 70 and 100 bpm, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). A lower heart rate is not cause for concern, according to the AHA, unless it is paired with other symptoms.

However, two children have died so far after receiving the treatment for Leukemia at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Seven-year-old Corwin Edwards succumbed on January 14 and Roshini Seegobin, three, died on January 18.

Seegobin of Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was cremated at the Good Hope crematorium, ECD on Tuesday.

Mendonca is critical after an alleged adverse reaction to medication which was administered to her.

The GPHC has since confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident. During the investigation, all medical persons who were directly involved will be interviewed and the medication which was administered will be assessed.

“Further, usage of that medication has been discontinued while the investigation continues… we advise members of the public to resist the urge to speculate on what is a sensitive matter and to await the findings of the investigation,” the GPHC said.

The hospital confirmed that it will continue to work closely with all stakeholders including the Ministry of Public Health, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other agencies, in an effort to improve services provided to patients.

Bakraj noted that Mendonca’s family spoke to GPHC officials, who indicated that the full report of the investigation would be shared with the families by the end of the week.

As the families await the report of the investigation, Bakraj complained about the treatment her niece has been receiving.

According to her, the child has been placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) because of her condition but has been moved a few times between that unit and the recovery room.

“When we got to the hospital this morning… dressed in protective gear… she was moved yet again to the recovery room because they needed the bed [in the ICU, for another patient],” Bakraj said.

Bakraj related that family members were taken aback because the child was moved and they were not informed.