CLAIMS that a pregnant 11-year-old girl was turned away from Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) after going into labour have been denied by the Health Ministry.
The GDN reported yesterday that the Syrian child gave birth to a baby girl at American Mission Hospital (AMH) on Thursday.
Sources claimed her family first took her to SMC, but she was denied treatment. However, the Health Ministry yesterday said no such case was reported at SMC’s emergency department or maternity wards.
“The Health Ministry rejects reports that an 11-year-old Syrian girl in labour was denied admission at SMC,” said a statement by the ministry’s public relations department.
“As soon as the report was seen, the ministry directed relevant authorities to check records at the emergency department and all maternity wards under it, and found that such a case was not registered.
Information
“This shows that the Health Ministry and the committee under it which covers cases of violence against children have no information about such a case.
“As we learn, the newspapers received an anonymous call on the incident and we urge all newspapers to ensure correctness of information before publishing.
“The ministry has not denied treatment to any citizens or residents in Bahrain in the past and neither will it do so in the future, and the doors of all its health facilities are open to the public.”
The statement also said that National Health Regulatory Authority chief executive Dr Maryam Al Jalahma denied giving any statement on this case, stressing that it was not under the authority’s responsibility.
The GDN reported yesterday that the girl arrived at AMH accompanied by four relatives, two men and two women, on Thursday morning.
Sources confirmed police were called and, after she gave birth, the girl and her relatives were taken for questioning about the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy. However, they returned to the hospital later in the day where both the girl and her baby were cared for by staff.
No further details have been released.
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