By Odette Loney Tuesday, August 18 2009

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HELPING OUT: Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, left, discusses Faith Davis' condition with her father, Earl, at his Irving Street, San Fernando, l...

TABAQUITE MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj is calling on the Government and Minister of Health, Jerry Narace, to reform the health care system and wants treatment options for baby Faith Davis.

The Davises, of Brothers Road, New Grant, are residents of Maharaj’s constituency and Maharaj yesterday met with Faith’s father, Earl.

One-month-old Faith was discharged yesterday afternoon from the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital in Mt Hope and is expected to be re-admitted next Monday to continue treatment for the burns on her right arm, caused by leaking intravenous fluids.

The child sustained the burns after she was admitted to the San Fernando General Hospital suffering from seizures and doctors administered intravenous medication to treat her condition.

She has since undergone two skin grafts and yesterday doctors discharged her so that her mother, Maureen, could get some much needed rest.

When she returns to hospital, doctors are expected to resume intravenous treatment with antibiotics for a bacterial infection that is impeding the healing of the skin graft.

At his law offices at Irving Street, San Fernando, yesterday, Maharaj said after he realised that Faith’s parents were constituents, he wanted to know more about her condition and treatment.

“It is quite clear that this child has suffered... is suffering and is in need of urgent assistance,” said Maharaj.

Maharaj said he intends to make representation to Government and the Health Minister to assist Faith if she needs medical attention abroad and he promised to visit the child at the hospital to speak to her doctors and the nurses attending to her.

Maharaj said Faith’s condition brings to focus the need for more to be done in the health care system.

“When someone gets ill that person should be attended to and if the person cannot get the medical attention here that person should have the same right as the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Opposition or some members of Parliament to get that medical attention abroad,” said Maharaj.

He said if no response is forthcoming from Government, he will assist in getting foreign doctors to look at the child’s wounds and will be seeking her medical records from the San Fernando General Hospital and the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital to ascertain whether or not a negligence case can be made out.

He also hopes to start a financial fund for Faith.

Maharaj also said Chaguanas West MP Austin Jack Warner will be asked to assist the Davises in whatever way he can.