Posted by By Dawda Faye
Serekunda General Hospital administrator Babucarr Mbye Adama Saine earlier today testified before Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara of Banjul high court on the investigation of the cause of the death of solo sandeng.
In his testimony, the Sanchaba Sulay Jobe resident said his duties include overseeing the medical record department. He further told the court that the cause of Solo Sandeng’s death was not shock or respiratory failure.
Mr. Saine narrated that he was redeployed to Serekunda General Hospital from Bansang General Hospital for one year three months, adding that he worked for 15 years in the medical field and currently assists the Chief Executive Officer on the daily operation of the hospital, as well as to supervise and monitors the hospital service delivery systems.
He told the court that they have 5 admission wards and all the wards have death certificate books. He adduced that he was testifying in relation to the death certificate they saw in the social media bearing the name of Solo Sandeng and the signature of Lamin Sanyang.
He went on to say that they received a letter from the office of the IGP; that summoned the head of the medical record unit to bring the death certificate. He testified that the head of the medical record unit then brought the book and they went through it page by page, stating that they observed that there was a page detached from the book.
He said they confirmed that the death certificate was extracted from the accident and emergency department record book. At this juncture, the death certificate book was given to him, and he confirmed that it was from the Serekunda General Hospital.
Still testifying, Saine narrated that the death certificate book was always in custody of the ward in charge, saying that the book comes in duplicate. He revealed that when the book was exhausted, it would be returned to the medical record unit, noting that the one which was given to him in the courtroom was exhausted.
Mr. Saine further told the court that the nurses working in the ward and the medical officers have access to the book, disclosing that he is also trained as a nurse. He testified that he knows somebody by the name Lamin Lang Sanyang and that they were trained together. He stated that Lamin Lang Sanyang was his senior at the SRN (State Registered Nurse).
He informed the court that Lamin Lang Sanyang works at the Serekunda General Hospital as locus staff, indicating that Lamin Lang Sanyang worked with the NIA.
At this juncture, he was asked to point Lamin Lang Sanyang out. He then walked to where the accused persons were and pointed at Lamin Lang Sanyang.
Lawyer Antouman Gaye applied to tender the death certificate book, and there was no objection raised by the defense. The said document was admitted by the court.
The witness was asked to go through the book and tell the court whether it was intact. He did so and said that it was not intact because seven pages were missing. He further stated that Lamin Lang Sanyang was working at the accident and emergency department from where the book was obtained. He said that it is only a doctor who is qualified to certify the death of patients and has the authority to sign a death certificate.
He disclosed that the name of the deceased on the death certificate which was dated 15th April, 2016, was Mr. Ebrima Solo Sandeng and was signed by Lamin Lang Sanyang. He further said that according to the death certificate, the primary cause of death of Solo Sandeng was shock and the secondary cause was respiratory failure. He adduced that Solo Sandeng was not admitted at the accident and emergency department on the date stated on the death certificate.
Mr. Saine revealed that death certificates are issued for patients who died at the hospital, noting that Solo Sandeng did not die at the hospital. He disclosed that Lamin Lang Sanyang was not authorised to sign death certificates.
Hearing continues on the 11th March, 2019.