POLOKWANE – The Limpopo Department of Health say the DA have peddled falsehood about the Mookgophong Health Center.
Spokesperson for the department, Neil Shikwambana, says the media release makes a several accusations which are “baseless and unfounded”.
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The media release, issued by the DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Health, Lindy Wilson, states that babies are being born under cellphone torchlights at the Mookgopong Health Centre due to there being no generator and as a result, three babies have perished.
“These are pure lies because there has not been a single baby that has died after birth in that facility. There has not been a baby that was born with complications and had to be referred to hospital so the DA is actually spreading falsehood in claiming that there is a baby who died in transit to hospital from Mookgophong Clinic,” Shikwambana said.
He added that the facility has a functional standby generator that takes over during electricity outages.
“Contrary to claims by the DA, there are lights in the maternity ward and the patient monitor, incubator and two baby warmers are all in a good working condition so the only crisis in that facility, exists in the imagination of the DA representative that visited the facility,” he added.
Furthermore, the media release stated that the center is without pediatric antibiotics, analgesics and shortage of critical stuff.
“All these medicinal items are available on stock. In fact, the Mookgophong Health Centre has been instrumental in supporting nearby clinics with regards to medicine augmentation.”
On allegations that a doctor has not been available for two weeks, Shikwambana says the truth is that the health center does not have a resident doctor, but a doctor from the Mokopane Hospital visits the centre on a scheduled basis.
“The department is appalled by the continuous antics by the DA of concocting untrue statements every time they visit our facilities in the name of oversight. We believe this undesired and reckless electioneering stunts, unnecessarily casts aspersions on the work of the department and cause unnecessary panic and alarm to communities. Genuine oversight must be motivated by the need to improve the service,” he concluded.
