The Eastern Regional Health Authority has launched an investigation into the death of three-year-old Ariah Sheppard.
Sheppard’s relatives said they are convinced that had there been a proper ambulance service for residents of Matelot, the toddler would be alive today.
The toddler died on Tuesday evening after falling ill at her grandmother’s house at St Helena Village, Matelot.
Yesterday, relatives of Ariah said despite numerous calls, there was no ambulance to respond to the emergency and the toddler was pronounced dead on arrival at the health facility when she was finally taken for medical care via private transport.
The toddler’s aunt Lana Alfred told Guardian Media that little Ariah, along with her three sisters, ages five, eight and 13 came to Matelot on Monday to spend the July/August vacation with their grandmother.
The toddler lived at Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain with her sisters and mother.
The aunt explained that around 4.30 pm on Tuesday, Ariah began vomiting. The toddler also experienced problems breathing and began sweating profusely.
She said as she and the grandmother rushed to the toddler’s assistance, they realised she required emergency care and called for an ambulance.
However, all calls were futile. Alfred said they eventually called the Toco Health Centre and claimed they were advised by a nurse to transport the toddler to the hospital themselves since there were no ambulance drivers available at the time.
Alfred said they flagged down a resident of the area who placed the toddler and her relatives in the tray of his van and made the seven-mile trek from Matelot to the Toco Health Facility.
Alfred said the child’s mother collapsed on hearing the news of her death and has been inconsolable since.
An upset Alfred said, “Bring the ambulance to Matelot as it can save lives. The time to get transport out of Matelot is very difficult at a certain time of the day and it means slower time to reach the Toco Health Centre.”
She lamented that all the plans to take Ariah and her sisters to the river and other fun vacation activities have now ended in sorrow.
Alfred said she was personally appealing to the ERHA to have the ambulance stationed at Matelot instead of Grande Riviere which is seven miles from Toco.
Guardian Media reached out to the Chief Executive Officer of the ERHA, Ronald Tsoi-a-Fatt yesterday, who said an investigation was now underway into the incident surrounding Ariah’s death.
Tsoi-a-Fatt said there was an ambulance service for Matelot with a driver, who lives in the area, on call to respond to emergencies. He said the ambulance was actually stationed at the Grande Riviere Health Centre which is not too far away.
The three-year-old’s aunt said the family was awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine exactly how she died.
