Newborn babies in cardboard boxes: Mahikeng Hospital being probed

The North West Department of Health is investigating the circumstances surrounding a case of newborn babies being placed in cardboard boxes in Mahikeng Provincial Hospital’s neonatal section.

The incident at the North West hospital came to light after a Facebook post showed babies wrapped in purple hospital blankets with nasogastric tubes, and placed in brown boxes.

According to preliminary internal investigations by hospital management, the incident happened during the day on Saturday.

However, it was not reported to management.

Newborns in cardboard boxes

North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha said he was shocked to learn of the incident of the newborn babies in boxes.

“The Department takes this matter in a serious light because there are systems, SOPs and procedures in place which should have guided the hospital on a solution if there were any challenges of shortage of incubators at the time.

“There are also management meetings that are held every Monday morning which normally looks into the weekend reports and yet this incident was never reported,” he said.

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Investigations

Sambatha has directed that the matter should be speedily investigated.

“The Department will institute further investigation to establish how much time was spent by these babies on these boxes. Under normal circumstances when staff members come across situations that are dire over the weekend they should call the managers so that relevant alternatives could be organised”, said Sambatha.

Cribs

Sambatha also said that as a matter of urgency, arrangements are being made for additional cribs to be immediately sent to the hospital from a facility that has more.

Moreover, the CEO is following up on the procurement process which is underway in the hospital for additional incubators and cribs.

It is understood that two people have also been placed on precautionary suspension. Meanwhile, Sambatha called for calm and apologised to the families of the babies.

“As the MEC for health, I should first apologise to the babies for the humiliation they were subjected to by the people who were delivering them, the hospital. Apologies to the worse component that even having placed in cart boxes. Someone took their photos and circulated them, thirdly apologise to the families of those babies,” Sambatha said.

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