Public Services Association president Leroy Baptiste hopes that the decision-makers at the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) take responsibility for the deaths of the babies in their care.
A total of 11 babies have reportedly died at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the past several months, a situation which has led to several lawsuits from grieving parents and prompted Government to ask the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to do an independent probe into the matter.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, Baptiste described the tragic loss of babies in such circumstances as quite unfortunate. He added that staff at many institutions were consistently deprived of resources, suggesting this may be the underlying issue.
Baptiste emphasised that numerous workers are performing miracles without the necessary resources being provided by the Government.
However, he said he hoped the probe would bring the desired results, since history has shown that little is ever achieved even after such exercises.
“I want them to investigate, and you know, they will take it from there. Of course, generally, I will put it this way, I am certain that the cry out will be the same cry out as we hear elsewhere. I am hearing about equipment that has been malfunctioning for months upon months, if not, in some instances, years, and nothing is done about it,” he said.
He added, “I would like to hope if there is someone to get in trouble, it’s the decision-makers and not the persons who just fight to make ends meet while fighting to get things done with limited resources.”
The PSA president said his union, which represents over 2,500 NWRHA workers, is also ready to represent those who may be implicated in the ongoing investigation.