The exchange of babies that occurred at the EsSalud Yanahuara III hospital has uncovered a chain of omissions that goes beyond an error that allowed the health of the insured and even workers to be exposed, since the care protocol for patients with HIV would not have been properly activated, despite the fact that there was a documented clinical doubt in their hands, an omission that is today being investigated internally at EsSalud.
According to the information provided by the manager of the Arequipa Network, Guadalupe Mamani, in the clinical history of the mother carrying the disease and involved in changing babies, there is a doubtful result for an HIV positive during her pregnancy, so the woman was asked to repeat the exam, but it was not done, according to the official, due to the refusal of the then pregnant woman.
Let us remember that in the interview given to Correo, the carrier mother assured that EsSalud never informed her of her illness, they did not provide her with retroviral treatment or a differentiated delivery. “Why should I refuse (exams and treatment), my son’s health was at stake”he told us. She discovered her positive two months after the birth of her baby and it was by chance when he agreed to an obstetrician’s request for a rapid test during a screening campaign carried out at a Minsa health center.
However, since the diagnosis has not been confirmed and in the absence of a new test, in the hospital decided to treat the pregnant woman like any other patient at the time of delivery. As the manager acknowledged, there was a suspicion. That single condition, doubt, should have activated preventive measures aimed at protecting the newborn at the time of delivery.
Guadalupe Mamani specified that the Disclaimer of responsibilities will fall to the staff who followed up on the patient. during pregnancy and during her care at the Yanahuara hospital. In that sense, it investigate if there were omissions in compliance with care procedures, since it was a sensitive case that required a much more rigorous approach.
Regarding the investigation into the exchange of babies, the official indicated that So far only one nursing professional has been identified fully for allowing the exchange of newborns. However, the investigation process remains open and it is not ruled out that there are more people involved.
The family of the changed baby demanded that her case be followed up and the official said that they will give the due attention until necessary and all doubts about possible contagion in the girl are cleared.
The Network Manager acknowledged that the case is “extremely regrettable” and assured that EsSalud will be relentless in the sanction. “We cannot allow events like this to happen again.”remarked the official after announcing that a process of internal restructuring of services at the Yanahuara hospital will be carried out, with the aim of correcting failures, reinforcing protocols and regaining the trust of the population. “We extend our public apologies and assume the commitment to improve our processes”said Guadalupe Mamani.
