First H1N1 Flu Death Case in Syria, Story of Fatima Started in Aleppo with Difficulty in Breathing and Ended with Grave

Aleppo, ChamPress-Nobody can tell the agony and pain the nine-month – pregnant Fatima suffered when she moved between both government and private hospitals in a two –day- trip from Raqa to Aleppo. The problem is that none of the doctors realized that she died of the H1N1 disease. The major problem is that although the Health Directorate detected the disease, they did not take any precautionary  measure for the companions of the patient , starting with her husband through her siblings and uncles.

ChamPress Office in Aleppo, received some details, from the deceased Uncle Subhi Nia’meh,43, as follows: Fatima Nia’meh , who had difficulty in breathing was l was taken to the National Hospital last Monday on October 19, in Raqa. At the request of the doctors , she was moved to Zahi Azraq Hospital in Aleppo, Which is entitled of  detecting the pig flu, and  where the resident doctor asked the doctor in charge over the phone about the disease. The latter just asked if the diseased came from a foreign country or communicated with someone coming from abroad . when the answer was no, he said the patient has no pig flu and he hanged up.

Fatima Nia’meh , 27, died at the Private Delivery Hospital in Aleppo, after delivering her baby by surgery in an attempt to save her life. So the baby girl survived to be named after her mother, who suffered a lot in her bitter journey between hospitals and ended with the grave. Unfortunately, her disease was only detected after her death.
In no more than ten hours, the hospital’s invoice surpassed SP60 000, including the cost of the Intensive Care Unit and surgery to deliver the baby.

After putting the immature baby in the incubator, Fatima passed away.
While the deceased  was waiting to be buried , her uncle who did not have all the money required by  the hospital, suggested to leave his ID at the Hospital Administration for the remaining money, pending the burial ceremony and the collection of  the required money , specially that Fatima’ s husband is poor. The director of the hospital started bargaining about the amount that should be paid immediately. So the deceased uncle had to borrow some money from a relative at the hospital.

Four days after the death of Fatima, after receiving a large number of people , who came to offer condolences, and after being reassured that Fatima was free of the H1N1 flu , her uncle and relatives went to the Health Directorate to  get the result of the sample taken for analysis. Surprisingly, the Health Director Ammar Talas , at the directorate,  informed them that the results of Fatima’s tests for the pig flu were positive, she had the swine and died of the flu.

“Why didn’t the Health Directorate inform us of the H1N1 flu disease? At least we would have avoided the kisses and hand shaking of those who came to offer their condolences. Moreover, I am a school teacher. Is man’s life that cheap?” He concluded.

Report : Yousef Jomaa
Ashraf Kanjo/ Munira Shibly