The case dates back to the first day of the year. According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, to which VerAngola had access, the minor was admitted to the hospital's emergency room at around 11:00 pm on January 1.
"The Ministry of Health was informed of the incident at the David Bernardino Paediatric Hospital involving a two-year-old male child, accompanied by his parents, who was admitted to the emergency room at around 11:00 pm on January 1, 2025, with severe traumatic brain injury resulting from a fall from the first floor of a residence in the Kilamba Centrality. The case resulted in death at 6:40 am on January 2, 2025," the statement reads.
Although he was admitted on the 1st, the patient was only treated in the early hours of January 2. According to the Ministry of Health, the child was seen at 00:38 am, "a total of 1 hour and 38 minutes of waiting, for a serious emergency case that, according to current protocols, should receive immediate care".
Given the "seriousness of the case" and with a view to "ascertaining the facts and the responsibilities that are required, and without neglecting the presumption of innocence to which all citizens are entitled", the Ministry decided to preventively suspend the service team, as well as to create a commission of inquiry to ascertain the facts.
The measures implemented by the Ministry of Health also include the "initiation of the appropriate disciplinary proceedings if necessary" and "administrative accountability if necessary".
In the note, the ministry also reiterates its "commitment to ensuring the highest standards of responsibility and humanization in the care of all those who come to its facilities, in pursuit of their constitutional right to health and well-being, aware that good life is inalienable and its safeguarding should deserve all the attention and priority of health professionals and others".
It also offers its condolences to the family, stating that "it will do everything to clarify the circumstances in which the unfortunate event occurred".