Second baby dies on remote island in a week

A second six-month-old baby has died on a remote island in less than a week, sparking calls for urgent improvements to rural healthcare.

Tiliva Village headman Eruate Lalabalavu lost his son, Joeli Lewania Lalabalavu, on Boxing Day.

He claims doctors at Kavala Health Centre on Kadavu sent the sick infant home with only paracetamol, despite clear signs of dehydration.

“The doctor should have put him on a drip because of the vomiting,” Mr Lalabalavu said.

“If they had no injection available, then they should have admitted the child for rehydration. This is the same situation as what happened on Gau island.”

Joeli developed diarrhoea, severe vomiting and high fever on Christmas Eve.

Mr Lalabalavu said medical staff saw the child on Christmas Day but told the family to sponge him at home.

Kavala Health Centre is a 15 to 20 minute boat ride from Tiliva Village.

On Boxing Day, the infant grew worse. He died while being rushed back to the health centre.

Mr Lalabalavu said the family was never referred to Vunisea Hospital.

He also claimed his son's body was kept in an ice cooler box because Kavala Health Centre has no mortuary.

"The facilities are very poor. There is no mortuary, just an esky with ice. That is not acceptable," he said.

A post-mortem is scheduled for today before the family can bury their son.

The incident mirrors the death of six-month-old Samisoni Vanurutu-vou, who died last Tuesday at Qarani Health Centre on Gau after presenting with similar symptoms.

The Ministry responded to the Gau case earlier, saying it awaits a formal complaint before it can investigate.

"The Ministry of Health must improve healthcare facilities in the outer islands," Mr Lalabalavu said.

"We face many difficulties on the outer islands. Transportation is very expensive, facilities are inadequate, sometimes there are no injections available, and the care is not always good."

Attempts to contact Health Minister Atonio Lalabalavu and the Ministry of Health were unsuccessful last night when this edition to to press in today's Fiji Sun newspaper.

Fiji Medical Association president Dr Alipate Vakamocea confirmed the association is investigating the Kadavu incident.