Following a story published in Polokwane Observer recently regarding the death of a new-born after doctors at Mankweng Hospital had allegedly given a 15-year-old pregnant mother wrong medication, Department of Health officials met with the family on Tuesday.
Afterwards the family indicated that they were not happy with the manner in which the department dealt with the case. According to them nothing was said about the requested compensation of R4 million and they also alleged that the department wanted to push them to bury the baby, who has been in the morgue for over six months, without the necessary post-mortem certificate. The father of the young woman reportedly showed signs of distress upon completion of the meeting and apparently collapsed. According to the family he however declined being treated at Mankweng Hospital, citing the bad service he might possibly get.
“We are disappointed that the department is not taking it serious because the officials claimed they were not familiar with it and requested five days to gather relevant information and respond to our lawyer. This happened in March already but was not given proper attention,” a family member said and added that the department pledged to assist the family to bury the child but nothing is being said about post-mortem certificate. They further explained that the department wants to start with the arrangements of the funeral before the end of the week.
Last Tuesday, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Limpopo marched to the department to hand over a memorandum of grievances including demands stemming from the Mankweng case. EFF Capricorn Region chairperson Ronnie Malema said the incident in Mankweng was a major concern and had necessitated them to raise it with Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba who had allegedly pledged to assist the family to bury the baby.
Malema reiterated that they had also raised the issue of R4 million in damages as demanded by the family, adding that the money was too little to make up for the loss of the baby.
Departmental spokesperson Neil Shikwambana did not have details of the meeting as he stated that he had not been part of it.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
