— relatives welcome govt’s support

MINISTER of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, on Thursday, visited family members of Alana Vaughan and Keon Sealey – two medical professionals who died following the recent tragic accident in Mahaicony.

Minister Lawrence extended condolences on behalf of her ministry and the government. She related that the individuals were two invaluable assets to the Public Health Ministry and their dreadful passing has touched many colleagues in the health sector locally and overseas. “I had to come myself because we are all family at Public Health. I would like the family to know that we stand with them at this moment and I trust that they will appreciate how we value our workers and people. I pray that God gives them the strength to carry on.”

According to the minister, her office, through the Regional Health Officer, will be in constant communication with the families and will work together as a team to offer whatever assistance is needed. She called on those persons who recorded footage of the incident and then posted it on their social media pages to act more responsibly. “When I saw it on Facebook, I was very hurt …. persons were more interested in filming it. Come on, we are better than that,” she related.

The public health minister also disclosed that the Social Protection Ministry will also provide competent social workers who will render professional assistance and guidance to the bereaved families during this period. Vaughan’s husband, Thodius Kanhai, told DPI “it is always good when you have people around from the senior level of the government. It shows that they care about the common man. I am thankful that she (Minister Lawrence) is here to bond with us and to give some form of solidarity because we lost two great medical professionals.”

Vaughan, a mother of two, and 33-year-old Sealey, both of Farm Mahaicony, were employed at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital. The duo was amongst five who died instantly after a No. 50 minibus they travelling in reportedly experienced a blowout and crashed into a truck. The Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into the incident which occurred on Wednesday morning. Minister Lawrence also engaged several staffers at the Mahaicony Hospital, who were colleagues of the deceased. (DPI)