Former health minister Dr Fuad Khan says he knew about the death of Siparia mother Cherrie Ryce to the deadly H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) but withheld information because he did not want anyone to panic.
He also said he was informed of Ryce’s death at the San Fernando General Hospital on Saturday by his medical colleagues and waited for the Health Ministry to inform the public.
When the ministry failed to do so, he said he issued a tailored press release on Wednesday, warning citizens to be vigilant.
In his release, he called on citizens to be cautious as there was a resurgence of virus in India and parts of South Asia, which share close ties with T&T.
However, he did not say that the virus was already in the country. Noting the 2009 pandemic in which 14,286 confirmed deaths were reported, he called on local authorities to put the proper measures in place.
Speaking in an interview from Mexico yesterday, Khan said: “Yes I knew about it. I am in the medical fraternity so I must know. I heard about it and I decided to coach my release not to panic people.
“I tend to get a lot of information through my medical colleagues and I was able to indicate to the people to be careful of the H1N1. I did not want to say it was here in Trinidad to panic anyone but I gave them tips on how to protect themselves in terms of certain factors.”
Asked if there was a reason to worry, he said: “If you are an elderly person, a young child, diabetic or suffer with an immune deficiency, you will be susceptible.
“That is why I sent out the release because I realised nobody was doing anything. I was waiting on the Ministry of Health to say something, when I did not see it coming, I decided to deal with it a next way.
“I did not do this for politics, I just decided to continue the work I was doing before.”
According to Khan, the virus is easily transmittable like the common cold and people should protect themselves by making sure they have not been in contact with anyone who may have had swine flu or any respiratory illness.
He added that proper hygiene, such as washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes are important.
Ryce laid to rest
In a humble service at the Church of Christ, Siparia, Ryce, 46, of Happy Hill was remembered for her perseverance throughout her many ailments. With a damage hip suffered during a childhood accident, Ryce’s brother, Wayne John, said she was unable to walk properly, had an eye problem and it left a large scare on her face.
Delivering the eulogy, John said that caused her to gain weight and developed diabetes. With no husband, no work and raising two children on her own, he said Ryce life was a struggle.
Despite her adversity, he said, she was able to overcome her many problems, eventually opening a parlour with food items her sister sent to her from the US. She even transformed her home from a dirt flood galvanised shack to one that was tiled and homey.