Staff waited too long to transfer baby

Dear Editor,
Health facilities have come under scrutiny within the last few weeks. This is not surprising since we are dealing with human beings. This does not mean to say that I agree with the care administered which caused the deaths.

Mismanagement is evident at many of our health facilities around the country. Families claim that deaths occur through wrong injections and other complications. This happened to a relative of mine who gave birth on August 24, 2010, at the age of 15, to a premature baby at the Kwakwani Hospital. The doctor said the baby was to be transferred to the McKenzie hospital.

The baby was delivered early the night but the staff waited until after 7 o’clock the next day. When they were ready to move the baby they discovered that it had died.

This is total negligence on the part of the management of the hospital. When we enquired no investigation had been done because the staff believed it was one of those mishaps. Further, we are calling on the Ministry of Health to ensure that the hospital is properly staffed since there is only one staff nurse and one midwife at the hospital.
There should be an investigation into this matter.

Yours faithfully,
Clifton James