We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) is calling on the Ministry of Health to immediately launch an investigation into what it describes as “heart-wrenching allegations” surrounding the handling of a preterm birth at the New Amsterdam Hospital, where a newborn baby was pronounced dead, later found alive while en route for burial, and subsequently died after being returned to the hospital.
In a statement issued this morning, WIN said the incident occurred on January 14, 2026, and is based on a detailed account provided by the baby’s mother, along with a blurred image of the infant that was handed over to relatives. According to WIN, the baby was first pronounced dead at the hospital, revived hours later while preparations were being made for burial, placed on oxygen after being rushed back to the hospital, and then pronounced dead again the following day.
According to the mother’s account, she was approximately six months pregnant with her first child when she began experiencing severe back contractions and light vaginal bleeding on the evening of January 14. She was initially taken to Port Mourant Hospital, where she was examined, given pain medication, and advised to seek care at New Amsterdam Hospital if her symptoms worsened.
After noticing increased bleeding at home, she proceeded to New Amsterdam Hospital, where she was eventually admitted after being required to register at the Emergency Department despite being in severe pain. She said doctors informed her there was a “50/50 chance” of survival for the baby due to the preterm pregnancy and that efforts would be made to stop the contractions.
The mother reported that during the night she was left in Ward 3 with minimal supervision and that nurses were asleep while she experienced worsening pain. She said no doctor or midwife was present when she ultimately delivered the baby in the early hours of Thursday morning.
“I felt something descending in my vagina… and a completely developed baby was delivered,” the mother stated.
She said the baby, with the umbilical cord and placenta still attached, was placed in a bedpan and was not immediately assessed, resuscitated, or checked for signs of life. She recalled hearing one nurse say that “he just breathed.” She was later told she could either allow the hospital to dispose of the baby or have relatives collect the body.
The baby was placed in a box and handed over to family members around 6:30 a.m., according to the account. At approximately 10:00 a.m., while preparing for burial in Corentyne, relatives discovered that the baby was still alive. The infant was rushed back to New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and placed on oxygen in the presence of family members.
The mother said she was not informed that her baby had been revived or placed on oxygen and only learned of developments afterward. On Friday morning, she was told by a doctor that her baby had “taken his last breath.”
The mother raised multiple questions in her statement, including: “Why was my child not assessed immediately at birth? Why was no doctor or midwife present during delivery? Why was my baby placed in a cold bedpan for hours? Why was the baby later placed on oxygen if the hospital claims he died at birth?”
She also questioned why the baby was placed in the mortuary without her or her family being informed, stating, “At least he was my child and not an animal; he was treated like an animal.”
The mother said the experience has left her traumatized and fearful of hospitals, doctors, and nurses, adding, “I am seeking answers, accountability, and justice for my son.”
WIN said the allegations raise serious concerns about negligence, patient care, and accountability within the public health system and has called on the Ministry of Health to urgently investigate the matter.
“Pregnancy is life and death, no matter the age of the pregnancy,” the statement said. “What went on is the biggest issue.
Guyana’s infant mortality remains a serious public-health concern. According to estimates from the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), which includes UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank and UN DESA, about 1,000 infants died in Guyana in 2023, meaning deaths before a child’s first birthday. The same UN data show that Guyana’s infant mortality rate is approximately 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, reflecting persistent challenges in maternal and newborn health despite recent health-sector investments.
As of publication, there was no official response from the Ministry of Health or the management of the New Amsterdam Hospital regarding the allegations.
