The Zika Foundation has issued a compelling appeal to Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe, urging the immediate cessation of the government’s planned appeal against a landmark 2023 High Court judgment. The ruling had affirmed the constitutional rights of children born with Zika-related disabilities, mandating state support for their specialized care needs.
Dr. Karen Sohan, Head of the Zika Foundation and former Chief of Staff at Mt Hope Women’s Hospital, emphasized that affected families seek only practical measures to manage their children’s complex care requirements. “These are modest needs, but they carry immense significance in easing daily burdens and preserving dignity,” Dr. Sohan stated, citing examples such as covered parking facilities to protect vulnerable children during hospital transport in inclement weather.
The case centers on eight-year-old Davyn Ragoo, one of 17 Trinidadian children born with congenital Zika syndrome during the 2017 outbreak. Born with microcephaly, Davyn is non-verbal and immobile, requiring round-the-clock care including specialized nutrition, constant physiotherapy, and mobility assistance. His mother, Kavita Ramkissoon-Ragoo, has developed an intricate system of gestures to communicate with her son—mouth opening indicates hunger, tongue twiddling signifies thirst, leg stretching suggests abdominal pain, and leg rubbing signals the need for diaper changes.
The original lawsuit, filed in 2019 against former Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, resulted in Justice Joan Charles’s groundbreaking 34-page judgment. The court found the state had violated Davyn’s constitutional right to life by failing to provide appropriate healthcare, ordering immediate specialized medical provision, financial assistance, and protocol implementation within three months. The state was also mandated to pay damages for constitutional breaches.
Despite the court’s clear directive, Ramkissoon-Ragoo reports receiving no communication regarding the appeal process nor any state assistance. Families continue to shoulder enormous financial burdens, often abandoning employment to provide full-time care while relying on charitable support.
While expressing confidence in the government’s commitment to children’s welfare, affected parents urgently request implemented procedures rather than prolonged legal battles. “Our kids were born with lifelong disabilities,” Ramkissoon-Ragoo emphasized. “My dream is for them to receive first-world treatment. We make it look easy, but I admit it is overwhelming at times.”
Minister Bodoe has acknowledged the inquiry but requested additional time to respond substantively to these critical concerns affecting some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.