7 News Belize

Head of KHMH ICU On Quarantine
posted (April 16, 2020)

And while that is indeed encouraging news, there is much to be learnt from the sxscanraio with patient 10, Conrad Everette, who died from CVOID-10 complication on Good Friday.

After that, a number of frontline medical professionals from Healthcare Partners and the KHMH had to be quarantined at a local hotel.

One of them is the head of the intensive care unit - Dr. Pedro Ariaga.  

We spoke to him today in his hotel room where his is on day 10 of his quarantine. We discussed the handling of patient 10 and the controversey via zoom video conference:

Jules Vasquez
"What was your perspective on this entire matter and the exposure of the frontline staff?"

Dr. Pedro Ariaga - Head of ICU, KHMH
"Jules you know I try to be a nuetral person in that sense because I'm still very concerned what has happened to my staff and for the physicians and nurses working in the frontline."

Jules Vasquez
"In your interactions with this patient, did you treat him as a COVID patient in all your interactions as a likely COVID patient?"

Dr. Pedro Ariaga
"We were thinking about that because the presentation of how the clinical progression of the patient at some point in time. I was very suspicious in the patients pneumonia and now responding to treatment. Most of the staff was suppose to be working were using N95 masks and certainly some of them, they were not using PPEs and he was isolated in the ICU."

We also asked Dr. Ariaga about his state of quarantine and when he returns to active duty:

Jules Vasquez
"When do you return to active duty on the frontline and are you looking forward to being freed of a..."

Dr. Pedro Ariaga
"Long time ago (laugh). From the first time I went to quarantine I wanted to go back but I need to subservient and I need as responsible with my family, with my staff, I consider my family too, with my patients too, everyone that has been interacting with me and I think we wait to see when the quarantine is supposed to be finished. Some of us we get a second swab today, so we are waiting for those results and so far so good because I have interaction with the staff from KHMH, everybody seems to be okay."

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize