Africa-Press – Cape verde. Mothers who lost premature babies at Agostinho Neto Hospital in February complained to Lusa about a lack of care, demanding an investigation, a week after the Government admitted the registration of five deaths.
“I can’t describe this pain. No one at the hospital gave me any explanation. When my baby died, not a word of comfort, not a hug, nothing,” Yara Ramos, 26, who lost her son at the Agostinho Neto University Hospital (HUAN), told Lusa.
Yara gave birth to a boy on February 5th, by cesarean section, with no complications other than low weight.
The baby was placed in an incubator, but ten days later I learned from hospital staff that everyone there had contracted an infection.
“Since February, they started dying. Some doctors are worried, but most just want their salary,” he said.
Yara’s son died on March 3: “My world fell apart. I had already bought everything: a crib, a dresser, clothes. Now I’m going to give them to whoever needs them,” she told Lusa.
Yara said she believed her son was one of the last “of a total of eight babies” who died at the unit and demanded an “urgent” investigation.
On Friday, the Minister of State, Janine Lélis, confirmed in parliament the death of five newborns in February, following an increase in the rate of premature births (between 25 and 31 weeks) and low-weight babies (870 to 1,870 grams) – indicating that three died from early neonatal infections of maternal origin, and, in two cases, from care provided and complications of prematurity.
The minister said it was “essential to strengthen prevention strategies, especially in prenatal care, which makes a big difference” to avoid such situations.
The matter was raised by the PAICV, which asked for clarification on an alleged outbreak of neonatal infections in the hospital.
“This is not the first time this has happened and, if nothing is done, it will continue. I don’t want any other mother to go through this,” said Yara, pointing out that four other women in the same situation refuse to speak out, because they think “there is no point anymore.”
Larissa Borges, 24, also lost her daughter on March 5 and has not yet received any explanation: “I don’t know what happened to my daughter,” she said.
The baby, born naturally on February 7, “was just underweight.”
Larissa confirmed that she had been seen by a doctor since January, and that she – the mother – was only diagnosed with fluid loss.
“They said it was normal and that I should drink more water, but my daughter was born healthy,” he highlighted.
At the end of February, she noticed that the baby’s feet were purple.
“I asked the doctor, who was shocked because she didn’t know anything,” he reported.
The situation got worse: his feet turned black and his belly swelled. The parents insisted on answers and a Cuban doctor confirmed an infection, without explaining how it was contracted.
“She was always under their care, I couldn’t even pick her up,” lamented the mother, who has already tried to contact the Public Prosecutor’s Office, but has not been able to do so.
“I want to file a complaint and meet with other mothers,” she said.
Larissa, who already had everything prepared to welcome the baby home, said she couldn’t get rid of the clothes she had reserved for her.
“I don’t want to give anything to anyone. I stay home alone thinking I would have my daughter for company,” she lamented, asking for “more care in the incubator.”
“Justice must be done,” he insisted.
The mother admitted to Lusa that she already had some fears, after a case, in December 2024, in which the body of a baby who died in the unit was reported missing.
Two weeks later, the hospital reported that he had been buried without the family’s knowledge, along with discarded human tissue.
Lusa tried to obtain clarifications, over several days, from the Government, the Ministry of Health and the hospital, but received no response.
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