Father of five dies after fighting dengue fever symptoms
Just days after Kern Sargeant posted on Facebook “dengue is the devil,” the 40-year-old father of five died after being afflicted with symptoms of dengue fever.
On August 11, Sargeant, of Cypress Hills, Union Hall, San Fernando, visited the Princes Town Health Facility after feeling unwell. At the time, he was also bleeding through his nose.
Relatives told Guardian Media yesterday that tests were done, including dengue screening at the facility. After returning a day later, Sargeant was informed that his blood platelet levels had dropped significantly. He was transported by ambulance for treatment to the San Fernando General Hospital, where he remained warded until Friday (August 16).
During an interview at the family’s Pleasantville home yesterday, his older brother Curvin Cudjoe said after he was discharged from hospital, his condition deteriorated.
“I came here the day before yesterday and saw him on my mother’s bed, and my mother told me it was dengue. But when I watch him on the bed, I saw him gasping for breath, and I told my mother that is not dengue alone. My thing is profiling, and I told mammy that he not looking good and he has to go back to the hospital. The doctors tried to get a heartbeat but got nothing,” Cudjoe said.
He said he never anticipated the bond he shared with his little brother, a CEPEP field officer and former social media officer for the People’s National Movement’s San Fernando East constituency, to be broken so soon.
“He always used to listen to me when he was small. Now he get big and does his own thing, so I left him, let him pave his way, but look what happen. Death have no number; when your number call that is it. You can die from anything out here, a simple mosquito bite, so don’t take life for granted.”
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health noted that when a patient with suspected dengue fever dies, a sample is also taken for confirmation. The samples are sent to the Trinidad Public Health Laboratory, which then takes them to the Caribbean Public Health Agency laboratory for analysis. The process can have a turnaround time of up to two weeks.
Residents in the area yesterday expressed shock over Sargeant’s death.
Renold George said Sargeant was always helpful and never hesitated to extend a helping hand.
“He was very good to people, very soft spoken, very helpful, very nice fella in the community. It wasn’t hard for him to do anything for anybody; his heart was always there for anybody that needed something. Just the other day we were chatting. It sad yes.”
George noted that he was dissatisfied with the mosquito eradication efforts being undertaken by the authorities.
He said, “Hear what—they were supposed to pass through in this area and spray since maybe the 16th of June. We nearly reach September and nothing; we gets nothing.”
In a Facebook post, PNM San Fernando East constituency executives extended condolences to the family of Sargeant and remembered his contributions to the community and party.
“Kern was more than just a committed officer; he was a beloved resident of Pleasantville and a pillar of our community. His tireless efforts, unwavering commitment, and passion for serving the people of San Fernando East will forever be remembered,” the statement said.
The latest Ministry of Health update on dengue issued on August 16, said there were eight laboratory confirmed deaths and 825 confirmed cases of dengue fever.
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