Ways in which Ruwaida Moola helped make Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital safe
After a health report declared the hospital as unsafe, Moola helped lead it back to safety.
In March 2022 Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital was in the press for all the wrong reasons.
Images and videos emerged that showed a grim look into the hospital, as patients were seen lying on the floor in an overcrowded and unkept environment. These were the same images a former student of the hospital, independent midwife, Ruwaida Moola saw, only she didn’t just look at them in silent anguish, she sought to help fix the dire problem.
Her objective became one that sought to restore dignified, respectful care despite financial status. After a report conducted by the Office of the Health Ombudsman declared the hospital unsafe, Moola reached out to the community as well as past hospital students to assist her in making it safe again.
Help slowly started to trickle in, first, through a contracting company as well as a hardware store both gave of their resources at no cost. Another company donated paint, which they used to add a fresh coat of paint and mural. Moola also managed to raise R24 000 through community donations but this still wasn’t enough money to make the much needed changes come to fruition.
It was at this time, when she thought she had little options left, that she approached Jamiatul Ulama South Africa (Jusa). When she sat down with the organisation’s members she explained to them what the hospital needed goes beyond a fresh coat of paint. Moola told them the hospital needed to get mothers off the floor but that she had no financial means to see this happen. “I added that our labour ward’s patients wait in long queues outside only to get into a room where there is one bed and maybe another.” To all the requests she put forward Jusa just kept asking ‘what else do you need?’ By end of the meeting, though they made no promises, they assured her they would engage with people who could help.
Sponsors, such as TotalEnergies made it possible for new beds, stretcher beds, chairs and a triage room. “They restored basic human right. Giving people a space where they can feel comfortable. This is now not only in the private sector but here too.”
This means they were able to make some of the improvements given in the ombudsman initial report.
Outside of the fact that Moola was born at this hospital and she was later trained there- is the firm belief this midwife has that her heart is imbedded within this hospital.
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