LIMPOPO – The alleged ill-treatment and neglect of a pregnant woman at Madimbo Clinic in Vhembe has culminated in the death of the newborn. The young mother was forced to give birth to her baby outside the locked gates of the clinic after she was denied access to the facility.
In a statement, DA Limpopo health spokesperson Risham Maharaj said the parents of the deceased baby say that their baby death came about as a result of trauma suffered during the birth.
“According to the parents along with eye witnesses at the clinic on that morning, that baby dropped onto the ground during the birth. When the mother and baby were eventually attended to, the nurse on duty indicated that all was well and both were transferred to Donald Fraser Hospital, where the baby passed on.
The DA today (September 8) laid a charge of culpable homicide against the nurse(s) involved and a charge of criminal negligence against the Limpopo Department of Health at the Musina Police Station, he added.
“The DA has laid the charge against the nurse and the department as we are determined to ensure a transparent investigation and accountability for the uncaring manner in which the mother was treated. There should have never been a scenario in which a pregnant mother is denied entry, and a baby is born outside the gates of a clinic that is meant to be operational.
“We hope that this case can help the family get answers and closure over this ordeal,” Maharaj concluded.
Departmental spokesperson Neil Shikwambana earlier said the department suspended a nurse from the clinic, who was on duty at the time of the incident.
Read more: Limpopo nurse suspended after woman gives birth outside clinic
He earlier explained that 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.
“It is believed that the nurse on call, who was supposed to assist the woman, failed to respond.”
The team was sent to the facility to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the occurrence of this incident.
