“Imagine that a fire killed so many babies due to the lack of organization and the irresponsibility of the hospital authorities”, exclaims the father of a victim.
Senegal is shaken by a terrible tragedy.
Eleven babies died on Wednesday in a fire in a hospital in Tivaouane, in the west of the country.
According to initial information, a short circuit was the cause of the fire.
President Macky Sall has declared three days of national mourning.
In front of the hospital, anger rumbles and accusations of negligence fuse.
But the mayor of Tivaouane assured on the spot that a midwife and a nurse were in the room.
“Justice will be relentless”
In response, the authorities have promised to modernize medical infrastructure and investigate to determine the exact cause of the fire.
“I assure you that justice will be implacable, (…) and I specify, with any person whose responsibility would be engaged”, specified the public prosecutor of Thiès.
For his part, Senegalese President Macky Sall dismissed his Minister of Health after the fire.
This type of accident is repeated in Senegal and highlights the serious shortcomings of the health system.
On April 24, 2021, four newborns died in the neonatology department of a hospital in the north of the country.
The authorities had invoked a fire starting in an air conditioner.
