The Ministry of Health has strongly refuted reports claiming that a patient died at Lima Regional Hospital due to a lack of oxygen. The management of the hospital, located in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region, addressed these allegations following the tragic passing of a 19-year-old male patient on August 23, 2025.
Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr. Ranjeev Singh labeled the circulating social media reports as false and malicious. He emphasized that claims regarding an “absence of oxygen” and suggestions of the hospital’s unpreparedness are baseless.
According to Dr. Singh, the deceased had a long-standing medical history of Sickle Cell Disease, which had led to frequent hospital admissions over the years. Recently, the patient was suspected of having leukemia and had been referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Haematology Clinic, but did not follow through with the referral.
On August 23, the patient was transferred from Oscar Joseph District Hospital in Charity to Lima Regional Hospital in critical condition, exhibiting symptoms such as fever, nosebleeds, jaundice, and dark brown urine—indicative of severe complications related to his underlying condition.
Dr. Singh reported that shortly after admission at 9:25 PM, the patient developed acute respiratory distress and low oxygen saturation. Medical staff promptly initiated emergency interventions, including oxygen therapy, CPR, defibrillation, and the administration of emergency medications. Despite these efforts, resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful, and the patient was pronounced dead at 10:52 PM.
The RHO assured the public that oxygen was available at Lima Regional Hospital and that the medical team acted swiftly and professionally. He stressed that the unfortunate outcome resulted from the patient’s advanced and critical medical condition, not from negligence or a lack of resources.
Dr. Singh urged the community not to be swayed by sensational and misleading reports, which can create panic and undermine public confidence in the healthcare system. The Ministry of Health remains committed to transparency, accountability, and enhancing healthcare delivery throughout Region Two and across Guyana.
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