One of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country

“At the moment, only emergency procedures are performed, and numerous patients awaiting surgery are turned away.

“The standards in Bongani Regional Hospital in Welkom have dropped so low that it is at risk of losing its accreditation to employ and train interns, should it not adhere to an ultimatum from the Health Professions Council of South Africa to meet minimum standards,” they wrote.

Last week, the Free State announced that five babies had died of klebsiella at Bongani Hospital, an infection that is spread because of inadequate hygiene. However, this statement was later retracted.

A few weeks ago, four babies contracted klebsiella at the same hospital, and one died.

The Free State has been beset with health service delivery problems, leading to human rights organisations such as the Treatment Action Campaign and Section27 campaigning for the resignation of the MEC.

Aside from the Free State, Mpumalanga is the only other province that has fewer doctors now than a year ago (a decrease of 39, from 875 to 836).

Countrywide, there were only 63 new doctors entering public health this year.

Limpopo has also seen an exodus of specialists, and now has only 80 across the entire province (down from 92 last year). This translates to 1.5 specialists per 100 000 people – the lowest in the country.

The Northern Cape lost three specialists in the past year, and is now down to 26 for the entire vast province.

The Northern Cape is also the only province to record a decrease in the number of professional nurses (a loss of 157 nurses, making a provincial total of 4 337).

Although 133 127 professional nurses are registered with the SA Nursing Council nationwide, only slightly more than half (68 105) work in public health. – Health-e News