CURREN EVENTS OF THE ISLAND OF VIEQUES
Demolition of the old Diagnostic and Treatment Center (DTC), formerly named the “Susan Centeno Community Health Center”, has just begun as of the week of May 16th, 2022. It took the death of 13-year-old Jaideliz Moreno Ventura in 2020 to bring attention to FEMA and the government to do something about the lack of healthcare on the island. The issue that has been raised with the rebuilding of the DTC, is that it will be rebuilt as a DTC, and will not be an actual hospital to serve the needs of the more than 9,000 residents of Vieques. (see article on jayfonseca.com “Gobierno nunca solicito enmienda a FEMA para la constuccion de un hospital en Vieques, for more info) The article states “The scope of work (SOW) is based on a replacement facility for a health clinic, not a hospital.”
The Diagnostic and Treatment Center post Hurricane Maria.
The Diagnostic and Treatment Center post Hurricane Maria.
In January of 2020, Jaideliz Ventura, had flu-like symptons and was taken by her family to the makeshift ER, called the Centro de Salud, the only healthcare facility on the island of Vieques. She was tested for the flu and the results came back negative. She was then sent home from the ER. Jaideliz’s symptoms worsened to the extent that she started convulsing, so her family returned to the ER. She fought for 5 hours, but the facility did not have the equipment to save her. The family was asked to help perform CPR and without a ventilator machine, a very old hand pump ventilator was the only way to assist her breathing. Jaideliz’s mother was quoted in an article saying- “My family has suffered an unspeakable loss,” “My daughter did not receive the appropriate medical services that could have saved her life when she needed it the most. Her death at such a young age, will not be in vain. We will make sure of that”.
She also said that “the people of Vieques deserved an explanation of why the funds for a proper health center have taken so long to be approved and disbursed. The people also need to know why the existing health center does not have the proper equipment, medicines and protocols, so that no other mother will have to go through what I am dealing with now.” There are many others who were also not given a fighting chance due to lack of a proper healthcare facility as well, and this has been the case for 5 years now.
By September 2021, the Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI) reported that at that time, FEMA had not yet received any request to amend the scope of the work for construction of a hospital by the Vieques government. They had to formally request in writing that the clinic was to be rebuilt as a hospital to secure proper funds from FEMA, and this was not done. The people of Vieques deserve this basic human right and if the Vieques nor US governments will acknowledge this problem, The Dr. Goddburn’s Foundation can and will.
The closest hospital with a 24-hour ER is Fajardo Hospital, and it is on the main island of Puerto Rico. The only way to reach the hospital is by air or ferry- both of which can take up to two hours in travel time, even with an emergency airlift by helicopter or propeller plane (because of waiting times for these vehicles to get to the island). Travel to transport in Vieques, and then travel to the hospital after docking in Fajardo included. The ferry leaves 8 times per day and does not prioritize the sick or injured. There is no water ambulance, which would be an incredible asset.
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