Limpopo nurse suspended after woman gives birth outside clinic

LIMPOPO – The alleged ill-treatment and neglect of a pregnant woman at a clinic in Vhembe yesterday (September 1) has been condemned by the DA in Limpopo. In a statement, the DA said the young mother was forced to give birth to her baby outside the locked gates of Madimbo Clinic after she was denied access to the facility, which is supposed to be open 24-hours a day.

According to DA Limpopo health spokesperson Risham Maharaj, the woman was informed by a security guard that the clinic would only open at 07:00. She also received no assistance from anyone at the clinic, Maharaj said.

“The incident is very worrying as this clinic is meant to operate on a 24-hour basis. It completely strips this young mother of her dignity in what should have been a joyous day for her. The Department of Health in Limpopo cannot allow its facilities and staff to ill-treat and neglect patients in this manner.”

Maharaj said the DA has written to Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba to investigate the circumstances around this incident as well as the reasons why the clinic was not open for 24-hour service.

Departmental spokesperson Neil Shikwambana responded in a statement and said the department has suspended a nurse from the clinic.

“The clinic does not operate for 24 hours, but works on a call system. The nurses sleep at the clinic’s premises and when a patient presents to the facility with an emergency, they are expected to wake up and assist them.”

Shikwamba said it is believed that the nurse on call, who was supposed to assist the woman, failed to respond. “The department has sent a team to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the occurrence of this incident so that it can act accordingly. The mother and the baby were since taken to the nearest hospital and they are both doing well.”

This is not the first time the department has come under fire with regards to access to proper health care in the province.

In 2019 the department suspended a clinic manager at Ngwaabe Clinic in the Sekhukhune district after two incidents came to light where mothers were forced to give birth outside the facility gates due to lack of assistance.

Also read: Sekhukhune’s Clinic manager suspended after 2nd woman gives birth at facility’s gate

At the time Shikwambana said the department would not stand by and watch while people, entrusted with the privilege to serve the communities who have no other option outside the public healthcare system, continue to fumble to the detriment of the lives of these community members.

Read more: Woman gives birth at clinic gate, manager suspended

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