Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
A YOUNG WARD of the state is now dead and two others in hospital after ingesting prescription medication that was not meant for them.
The three children are from the Glenhope Place of Safety (nursery department) located in Kingston.
The Gleaner has learnt that the incident occurred on Friday night when it is believed that another child took medication from the tray of an attendant who was dispensing medication to the sick children.
It is alleged that the child who removed the medication gave the tablets to other children telling them they were "sweeties". Eight children took the medication and three fell unconscious.
The children were rushed to the Bustamante Children's Hospital in Kingston on Saturday morning where three of them were admitted and the others released. One of the children, a two-year-old boy, died in hospital.
Meanwhile, the other two, both girls aged five and seven, remained in hospital yesterday. Their condition is not considered serious.
INCIDENT CONFIRMED
The medication taken by the children was reportedly prescribed to a child who suffered from seizures. When contacted yesterday, the Child Development Agency (CDA) confirmed the incident.
"How the children got access to the medication has not yet been established but we are working meticulously to find out exactly what happened and why," said Alison Anderson, chief executive officer of the CDA.
According to Rashida St. Juste, public relations manager at the CDA, the matter is under investigation. "We are looking into it. We have several theories that we are pursuing," she told The Gleaner.
Asked if there was any shortage of staff on the night shift when the incident occurred, Mrs. St. Juste said: "No we were not understaffed. It was a normal shift."
