MPUMALANGA PREMIER WITH MEC FOR HEALTH VISITS THE NEWBORN WHO WAS MISTAKNLY AMPULATED A HAND AT WITBANK HOSPITAL
By MP Staff Reporter
On Sunday, 11 April 2021 – Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane learned with shock and disappointment of an incident involving a three-week-old baby, the unfortunate incident occurred at Bernice Samuel Hospital in Delmas at the Victor Khanye Local Municipality.
The Premier together with MEC for Health Sasekani Manzini visited the child and the family at Witbank Hospital to give them support, monitor the baby’s recovery progress, and to assure the family that they don’t take what has happened lightly.
The three-week-old baby was admitted for diarrhea at Bernice Samuel Hospital and had to be transferred to Witbank hospital after complications that led to the amputation of the baby’s hand.
According to information, a drip immediately was put on the hand when she arrived, she was also dehydrated, and when the mother went to feed the child the following day she found that her hand had turned blue and black. The child had to be transferred to Witbank hospital and her hand was amputated.
The Premier has assured the family that a thorough investigation will be conducted. “While the investigation begins the medical staff involved should be suspended with immediate effect and we should get a preliminary report by next week. We need only the truth as to what happened, but we also need to make sure we support the family and offer counseling to the young mother and the rest of the family,” said the Premier.
Both the Premier and MEC agree that as a government they should take full responsibility for what has happened while a proper investigation is conducted. “We condemn such unfortunate incidents at our health facilities that are the reason the Premier and I as mothers ourselves saw it fit that we come here in person to show the family that they are not alone and that we committed to ensuring that they get justice for this baby,” said MEC Manzini.
The MEC said the department is working tirelessly to ensure efficiency at its health care facilities and they won’t rest until such is done.
Meanwhile, the department has since suspended the three (03) doctors and a nurse with immediate effect.
