Healthcare Crisis in Fort Liberté: specialist’s death exposes once again critical equipment shortage at hospital

FORT-LIBERTÉ — Once again, the people of Fort-Liberté are raising alarming concerns about the dire state of their hospitals, demanding better equipment to prevent further loss of life. This new call follows the death of Dr. Paul Roussel Casséus, one of the two obstetrician-gynecologists at the Fort-Liberté Hospital.

“We can’t continue to lose our loved ones like this,” said Roudeline Adrien, who joined a march organized after the death of her brother-in-law, Dr. Casséus.

On Sept. 11, the community gathered to lay Dr. Casséus to rest, mourning not just a physician but the failures of a healthcare system in crisis. In response to his death, residents organized a peaceful march, a reiteration of previous pleas last July for improvement that have long gone unanswered.

Citizens marched through the town, demanding justice for the deceased and calling on the authorities to take immediate action to address the ongoing crisis at Fort-Liberté Hospital.

“Several people have died at the hospital due to oxygen problems, like my brother-in-law just died,” said Adrien, at the peaceful march in the town.

Protests erupted before, on Sept. 2, with residents accusing the hospital’s director, Dr. Isnelle Decome, of neglecting her duties for nearly two decades.

“Dr. Isnelle Decome has been running the Fort-Liberté hospital for 17 years without improvements,” claimed one protester, voicing the community’s anger and frustration.

Doctor’s death exposes deepening crisis at Fort-Liberté Hospital

Dr. Casséus died from respiratory problems that some attribute to the hospital’s lack of functional equipment. On the day of his death, he arrived at the hospital struggling to breathe. Despite his wife and a young man trying to care for him, little could be done.

“Doctor Casséus arrived at the hospital at 8:40 a.m. and was being cared for by his wife and a young man. He was tachypneic (rapid breathing), sweating profusely, and could not even speak,” the management of the Fort-Liberté Hospital indicated in a statement to clarify the circumstances around his death.

The death of the doctor has pressured government authorities to respond to the family and residents’ urgent calls for answers about the events leading up to his passing. The Departmental Health Directorate issued a press release, insisting they have an oxygen manufacturing system to supply all regional hospitals. However, these assurances fall flat for many residents, as experiences like Dr. Casseus’s suggest otherwise.

Dr. Casséus had been battling health issues for weeks. According to medical reports, he was previously saved “in the nick of time” when he spent a night on oxygen. His family rushed him back to the hospital as his condition deteriorated, but the facility lacked the modern equipment necessary for his care.

“Eight days ago, the doctor spent the night on oxygen and he was saved in the nick of time, his doctor even advised him to consult an internist because his case was serious,” reported Isnel Decom.

Although the Departmental Directorate of Health claims the hospital’s oxygen production system was operational, locals believe systemic incompetence and lack of proper equipment led to Dr. Casseus’s death. Legal action is now underway. The government commissioner at the Fort-Liberté court summoned the medical staff on duty the night of Dr. Casseus’s death to clarify the circumstances.

“You are asked to be accompanied by your doctors and nurses on duty who were on duty that night,” read the official summons issued on September 6.

This is not the first time the Fort-Liberté hospital has faced scandal. With a history of patients dying due to a lack of staff and equipment, the hospital’s woes are well-known in the region. The main regional medical center, Saint Joseph Hospital, struggles with similar issues, operating only four out of thirteen essential departments due to resource shortages.

Residents alarmed by lack of action After repeated calls for change

Residents have long voiced their frustrations, seeing little to no change despite repeated calls for action. In a recent interview, Pierre Ange-Marie, a 72-year-old diabetic from Vallières, shared her experience of waiting more than five hours for care.

“I was abandoned because I am poor,” she said.

“I lost my uncle because they didn’t have the necessary equipment,” said Viviane Bélizaire, a resident of Fort-Liberté.

The hospital’s difficulties are exacerbated by an exodus of health specialists to neighboring countries like the Dominican Republic, where they receive better treatment and resources.

“Many specialists left because the salaries could not meet their needs,” acknowledged Dr. Jean Denis Pierre, the departmental director of the Ministry of Public Health and Population.

For the Fort-Liberté hospital to meet the needs of its population effectively, it requires a complete overhaul, from infrastructure to staffing and equipment.

“We need qualified staff, adequate infrastructure, and the availability of medicines and supplies,” emphasized Lyneda Joseph, Secretary General of the Union of Young Leaders for Social Action in the North-East.

The population’s determination to obtain justice for Dr. Casseus and others like him has led to multiple peaceful marches. During the doctor’s vigil, citizens expressed their gratitude for a man who was always ready to serve despite the hospital’s limitations.

“He was a good person concerning the services he provided,” said Father Leonex Almonor.

Dr. Casséus, who passed away on August 30 at the age of 58, was laid to rest on September 11, leaving behind a community grappling with grief and demanding change.

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Healthcare Crisis in Fort Liberté: specialist’s death exposes once again critical equipment shortage at hospital was first posted on September 16, 2024 at 9:41 am.