Ministry of Health clarifies support it accorded to young boy with rare medical condition |09 February 2018

A recent programme aired on Seychelles Broadcasting Cooperation’s morning programme ‘Bonzour Sesel’ presented the rare condition of a young Seychellois boy, Nathan Laporte.

The programme, aiming to get support so that the boy may continue his treatments, showed a profoundly incorrect impression of the support both financial and medical, given by the Ministry of Health.

To clarify the support that the Ministry of Health has provided, the principal secretary for health, Dr Bernard Valentin, wrote to the TV station.

The full text of the Ministry of Health’s position on the matter is as follows:

“The Ministry of Health has followed the recently aired programme on SBC appealing for support on behalf of Nathan Laporte - a young boy affected by a tragic disease.

“Like all members of our society, the Ministry of Health is sensitive to the extremely difficult situation faced by Nathan, his parents and his wider family. Unfortunately the programme created the false impression that the Ministry of Health has not supported the treatment of Nathan - a view that is profoundly incorrect.

“The health care professionals in the pediatric ward and throughout the health service have given the utmost support to Nathan throughout his life - from diagnosis of the debilitating disease that he faces, to the various options of treatment that are available.

“The Ministry of Health’s policy also provides for a review to be done annually at a hospital in India.

“The Ministry of Health understands that the family of Nathan have for a while been following certain treatments in South Africa, and wish to continue to do so.

“The Ministry of Health thanks you for the opportunity to clarify the situation, and hopes that in all future appeals that someone may wish to make, that appropriate verification is made with the Ministry of Health before such accusations are made unchecked.”