Nieuw Nickerie, Suriname – A member of Suriname’s National Assembly (DNA) has voiced serious concerns over a prolonged shortage of tetanus vaccines at the Mungra Medisch Centrum (MMC), the region’s primary medical facility. Rawien Rahoenandan, the DNA member for the district, stated that the EHBO-afdeling (emergency department) has been without tetanus vaccinations since December of last year.
The current protocol requires patients presenting with wounds requiring sutures to be referred to the Regionale Gezondheidsdienst (Regional Health Service) to receive a tetanus injection. Rahoenandan criticized this practice as “undesirable and burdensome” for patients. “For someone who has just had a wound stitched, it is physically and practically difficult to travel to another location for a necessary injection. In emergency situations, complete care should be immediately available at the emergency department,” he said.
Tetanus, a potentially fatal infection caused by bacteria entering the body through wounds, affects the nervous system and can lead to severe muscle spasms, breathing difficulties, and death. Prompt vaccination is crucial in preventing the disease, particularly in cases of injury.
Rahoenandan is urging relevant authorities to urgently replenish the tetanus vaccine supply at the MMC. He emphasized that the residents of Nieuw Nickerie are entitled to accessible, comprehensive, and safe emergency care, and that the vaccine shortage should not turn into a persistent issue.
The concerns raised by Rahoenandan come amid reports of other health-related issues in Suriname. Recent news from Surinametimes.com also highlighted Denmark’s achievement in becoming the first EU country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, a public health milestone recognized by the World Health Organization.
