The apparent sewer drain has a deteriorated metal cover with several holes ANLLY MATEO
Santo Domingo, DR – The families living in “La Cueva,” in the Maquiteria sector of Villa Duarte, Santo Domingo East municipality, where, according to neighbors, three children have died of suspected dengue fever, live amidst accumulated water and garbage in a septic tank which reflects the poor hygiene.
The apparent sewage drain has a deteriorated metal cover with several holes. According to residents, the surrounding cement cover has a hole through which water comes out when it is completely full and overflows in times of downpours. The constant dripping of water from the “cave” produces a humidity that covers several of the zinc-roofed houses below.
“There are too many mosquitoes here, too many, too many mosquitoes, just that hole over there is full of water and mosquitoes,” said Franklin Ogando, a resident of the area.
Elainy Pérez’s neighbors and relatives attribute the death of her son and two other children in the area with suspected dengue fever to this calamitous situation.
Mauricio Perez, the father of the nine-year-old girl who died on July 2nd, says that the infant presented fever, vomited once, and had bruises and convulsions until she lost her life while she was being taken to a medical center.
Perez indicated that up to the moment, the information provided by the medical center where she was treated indicated that it could have been dengue fever. However, they are still waiting for the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) to deliver the autopsy results.
She said that her daughter spent much time playing in the houses near the sewer.
“When it rains, it is a total mess, a lagoon,” said Perez when talking about the hole.
The last case registered in this sector, with suspicions, is about a girl who was one year and seven months old and died last Wednesday at the Robert Read Cabral Hospital.
Ercilia Hernandez, the infant’s great-grandmother, said that she had a high fever and that she immediately went to take her to the Los Mina maternity hospital. Still, when the fever went down, she was sent home.
Hernandez said that in the early hours of the morning, “she felt hot” again and vomited. She explains that at that moment, she decided to take her to the polyclinic of Villa Duarte, where she was assisted and put on oxygen until she was referred to the Robert Read Cabral Hospital.
Although the neighbors speculate about the situation, Hernandez expressed that he prefers to know the results of the autopsy that will be delivered in 45 days.
As of midday this Saturday, the Inacif had not delivered the body of the deceased to the relatives, who were desperately waiting outside the institution.
Some families go further and show their concern about the issue. Because of this, they ask Public Health to come to their aid, inspect the place, sanitize it, and carry out fumigation campaigns.