DURBAN - An emergency medicine physician has paid tribute to two KwaZulu-Natal girls who died of Covid-19-related complications last year.
Dr Cleavon Gilman recognises and salutes children who died from Covid-19-related complications.
On Saturday, Dr Cleavon Gilman lauded Shanika Balsarang and Katelyn Pillay.
Shanika Balsarang, aged nine, a Grade 4 pupil at Acaciavale Primary School in Ladysmith, died of Covid-19 complications. Along with her parents and grandmother, she had tested positive for the disease two weeks before her death.
🇿🇦 9 y.o. Shanika Balsarang, 4th grader at Acaciavale Primary School in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal #SouthAfrica died from COVID on August 1, 2021. #PediatricSoulsLostToCovid https://t.co/RH5PNHEl3G pic.twitter.com/JVWlnO5uaV
— Cleavon MD 💉 (@Cleavon_MD) February 5, 2022
Rest in peace, Shanika Balsarang pic.twitter.com/mBJWWc6moC
— Cleavon MD 💉 (@Cleavon_MD) February 5, 2022
Two weeks later, Katelyn Pillay, 12, a Grade 7 pupil at Wembley Primary School in Phoenix, also died of Covid-19-related complications. She passed away three days after testing positive for the disease.
"Covid is real. You don't realise it until it hits home... schools should close & send work home. Which would you choose – losing a year of education or losing your child forever? The teachers' lives are also at risk" https://t.co/oTG8fUAoxz pic.twitter.com/jO0r9YgtBT
— Cleavon MD 💉 (@Cleavon_MD) February 5, 2022
The girls died when KZN was in the grip of the third wave of Covid-19 infections.
POST reported that the girls’ parents, Sagel Balsarang and Karishma Pillay, believed KZN schools should remain close until infections were reduced.
At the time of their passing, KZN’s premier, Sihle Zikalala, said an increase in cluster cases had been noted, with schools emerging as the biggest contributor to the surge in the disease.
More than 120 schools had reported cluster infections, and more than 800 pupils and teachers had been affected.
Pupils had made up at least 95% of the number, while teachers accounted for the remaining 5%.
Daily News