Patient allegedly murdered days after being admitted to Psychiatric Hospital
Some three days after he was admitted a patient at the National Psychiatric Hospital at Canje, Berbice, a 41-year-old man who suffered from epilepsy was allegedly murdered by fellow inmates.
On the same day, another patient was reportedly injured during the same confrontation which took place on May 23, 2021.
The dead man has been identified as Rohan Satish Sunthgulm of Canefield, East Canje, while the injured person is Steve Roberts, also of the same village.
Though the incident occurred since last week, it was only made known to the media after the injured person’s grandmother reached out to some reporters.
Dead: Rohan Satish Sunthgulm
Roberts, who suffers from a severe speech impediment, could not coherently explain to journalists how he received injuries to his feet and head whilst at the facility.
However, his grandmother Amina Hanif said she was able to get the information from him and related that his face was first covered before he was beaten by fellow patients.
Guyana Times reached out to the sister of the murdered man, who explained that her brother attended a clinic at the National Psychiatric Hospital because he was epileptic and had injured himself on May 21, 2021.
He was then taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital and subsequently admitted a patient at the Psychiatric Hospital. Two days later, on May 23, the family received news that he was injured. This publication understands that he received a stab to his neck, lacerations to his head, and his forehead was badly swollen.
Injured: Steve Roberts
Sunthgulm died whilst receiving care at the New Amsterdam Hospital. Meanwhile, in an invited comment on Friday, Regional Chairman David Armogan explained that many of the patients at the National Psychiatric Hospital are violent, often destroying parts of the building.
Armogan said efforts will be made to improve security at the institution and noted that since the incident, Police Officers have been making nightly checks.
Regional Health Officer, Dr Vishalya Sharma explained that both incidents which resulted in Roberts’ injury and the murder of Sunthgulm occurred at the same time. She noted that the lone nurse on duty had to flee to ensure his safety.