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1-year-old baby dies from unknown illness in Santa Cruz

General1-year-old baby dies from unknown illness in Santa Cruz

The closest clinic to the village is 28 miles away

SANTA CRUZ, Stann Creek District, Tues. Nov. 27, 2018– A tragic story has been reported of the death of a 1-year-old baby girl in Santa Cruz Village in the Stann Creek District. The baby, Ofelia Na, began to suffer from an unknown sickness on Sunday, and by the time the child’s family got assistance on Monday afternoon, it was too late.

Ofelia’s mother, Hilaria Na, told 7News in an interview that the baby had a fever and flu-like symptoms since Sunday, but was feeling better on Monday morning. By midday, however, she started feeling sick again.

One of Na’s sons tried to get help from a family friend, but by that time it was already too late. When the family friend, Jose Tzir, arrived at the house, he saw Ofelia’s father, who had rushed home from Mayacan, where he does logging, holding the baby’s body. The baby had already died.

When the story surfaced on social media, many blamed the child’s mother for not immediately seeking medical attention. However, those who condemned the mother couldn’t be aware of their situation. Na’s neighbor, Jose Tzir, explained that the closest clinic to the village is in Dangriga, roughly 28 miles away. Additionally, the Na family had no transportation and no means to rush Ofelia to the clinic. According to Tzir, none of the residents of the village own vehicles, and to get a private ride is expensive.

Tzir said that Ofelia is not the first baby in the village to die after becoming sick. As it is, Ofelia is the second child the Na family has lost to an illness.

Na said that she has not visited a doctor as yet, so she is unsure of what exactly caused little Ofelia’s death.

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