Probe into baby tragedy

JOBS of several medical staff at a Mpumalanga hospital are hanging by a thread after their alleged act of negligence.

This comes after it emerged that a 22-year-old mother in Delmas took her baby to Bernice Samuel Hospital for diarrhoea; however, while receiving treatment the baby caught an infection and his hand turned purple and developed blisters.

The baby had to be transferred to Witbank Hospital after complications which led to the amputation of his hand.

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane said the medical staff involved should be suspended with immediate effect. A preliminary report on the case should be ready next week, he added.

“We need the truth as to what happened, but we also need to make sure we support the family, and offer counselling to the young mother and the rest of the family.”

The province’s Health MEC, Sasekani Manzini, said that as a government organisation they should take full responsibility for what had happened while a proper investigation was conducted.

“We condemn such unfortunate incidents at our health facilities. That's 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 Manzini.

In a lengthy Facebook post, the baby’s mother, Mbalenhle Lindokuhle, said that she took her baby to the hospital for diarrhoea. She said her baby was placed in an incubator and put on a drip after doctors indicated he was dehydrated.

According to the mother, she was separated from her baby and only went to see him when it was time to breastfeed. She said when she noticed blood, she was told that her baby had “pulled the drip”.

She added that her baby’s hand turned purple with blisters and later turned black.

On Monday, the community of Delmas marched to the hospital where they handed over a memorandum of demands.