Deadly Mahdia fire: Teen receiving treatment in NY making good recovery – Dr Anthony
Sherana Daniels
The 13-year-old student who sustained severe burns to her body following a fire at the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory is making a good recovery, according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.
The teenager was the only burn victim who was flown to Northwell Health Burn Care Centre in New York to receive medical treatment.
Dr Anthony on Monday related that the child has been receiving the best care and is now conscious.
“The team in New York was able to remove those tubes. She is conscious, she is interacting with nurses, doctors, and her parents who are there.”
The critically injured child being transported to CJIA to be taken to New York
On May 27, the critically injured teen was picked up by the Global Rescue Ambulance via the Air Ambulance at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and taken to the Northwell facility – which has waived all costs for medical care.
She was among several others who were admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital on May 22 following the fire at Mahdia. While at the GPHC, she underwent two surgeries, and her condition, though critical, improved steadily.
The death toll from the Mahdia fire, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) stands at 19 female students from the dormitory and a five-year-old boy.
The students are Subrina John, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans, Bibi Rita Fiona Jeffrey, Lisa Roberts, Tracil Thomas, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arianna Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Martha Dandrade, Mary Dandrade, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherlyn Bellarmine, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts, Sherana Daniels and Adanye Jerome, the son of the dorm mother.
On May 22, fire ripped through the Mahdia school dormitory after being maliciously set by a 15-year-old student.
At the time of the blaze, the facility housed 59 students from the communities of Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie and Chenapau. The Guyana Fire Service confirmed that 14 children died in the inferno while five died at Mahdia District Hospital.
Several others were also receiving care at the GPHC but have since been discharged. Psychiatrists, child psychologists, counsellors and social workers make up the teams that were dispatched to Mahdia.
These teams were asked to work in Mahdia and surrounding villages over three months, while plans to establish a strong mental health team permanently will be implemented.
