Molefi Sompane
A Free State family has vowed to seek justice after their baby granddaughter died, due to alleged medical negligence, at a local hospital. Seventeen and eight months pregnant, the young mom-to-be was eagerly awaiting the arrival of her baby girl. But things took a turn for the worst on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Nyakallo Nombe claims nurses were negligent and left her in pain while waiting for an ambulance from Bongani Hospital in Welkom to Katleho Hospital in Virginia North. Her mother, Vuyokazi Nombo-Mofokeng, explained what unfolded that fateful night. Left in pain “My daughter started having contractions and was due to give birth on the 14th of March. She was told to wait for an ambulance to take her to Katleho Hospital in Virginia. For six hours, from 1 to 7am, they left my daughter in severe pain. The staff took their
Two of the Free State’s biggest hospitals have postponed some surgeries as Bloemfontein’s water shortage enters its second week. The Universitas and Pelonomi Hospitals are making do with water rations following the immediate cut of water supply from their reservoirs by Bloem Water. Public facilities have been severely affected and patients have been turned away. Although the municipality issued a notice for the restoration of water, it never happened. Free State Health Department spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, said the hospitals’ reservoirs are under severe pressure. Only high-risk and life-saving surgeries are being performed, with minor procedures put on ice for now. “Water is a source of all life and its importance is often underplayed. In the context of health, water plays a vital role in ensuring infection prevention because you have to keep all clinical environments sterile,” said Mvambi. He added: “We have struggled to access water in the past seven
The Free State Health Department hopes boosting orthopaedic capacity at district hospitals will help eradicate long waiting times for patients. At the moment, the Pelonomi Regional Hospital in Bloemfontein, is under severe strain due to the number of referrals. Department spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, said an assessment of complaints of patients awaiting surgery found that delays are often caused by emergency trauma cases that supersede scheduled procedures. “These cancellations frustrate patients who are awaiting surgeries, or those who have been prepared overnight. Some skip food for days while waiting for a new slot,” he said. “The high volumes of trauma, injury and violence often overwhelm our staff and require more theatre space, time and resources. These factors have thus compelled the department to expand its services and staffing levels.” Orthapaedic care bolstered The department is currently working to expand orthopaedic sections in several hospitals in the province to increase capacity. Theatre
Clinics in Mangaung are closing down one by one as severe water shortages continue to wreak havoc on primary health centres within the Free State municipality. This come after BloemWater was forced to implement water cuts after not being paid an agreed amount of R20 million a month. The water cuts forced several clinics to shut their doors, leaving thousands of patients stranded. Mondli Mvambi, the Health Department spokesperson, said top management is engaging with the municipality to try and find a solution. “Some ailments require the drinking of medications at clinics. So, with no water available, some of them had to shut down while others only opened to provide treatments,” he said. ‘We are sorry’ – health dept Mvambi apologised on behalf of the Free State Department of Health. “We apologise to the public and we are hopeful that these water shortages will come to an end,” said Mvambi.
Free State Health MEC, Montsheng Tsiu, and Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula hopes holidaymakers will make use of COVID-19 vaccination stations placed on four of South Africa’s national roads. Mbalula launched the holiday road safety campaign this week using the hashtag #LiveBeyondDezemba as thousands prepare to leave on holiday. Drivers on the N8, N1, N3, N5, and N6 queued to get jabbed next to the roads where security clusters have gathered to ensure road safety. MEC Tsiu dishes out shots Tsiu, a professional nurse, administered a few shots to travellers and urged others to get vaccinated. She said the province is trying to play a role in helping the country read population immunity. “We have set ourselves a target of vaccinating at least 80% of the population. These stations will not only help our own province but others as well. We hope to vaccinate between 20 000 and 50 000
Scores of patients seeking treatment at Free State clinics have been sent home due to rising COVID-19 infections among health workers. Several facilities are temporarily closed and Bloemfontein residents have either been turned away or referred to other facilities without success. Sello Mahasa, 67, said he failed to get his diabetic treatment. “I’m a patient at MUCCP which has been closed for three days. They told me to go to Pelonomi but the strikes prevent us from getting help,” he said. Another patient, Agnes Mohaolwa, called for mobile clinics. “I wonder why they fail to use mobile clinics so we can receive treatment,” said the 72-year-old. COVID-19 cases on the rise Meanwhile, the Free State Department of Health announced two positive COVID-19 cases among its directorates. The provincial medical depot has reported another two cases. This comes just days after five clinics were temporarily shut after nurses and assistants tested
Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Pinky Kekana, has warned perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV) about the impact of their behaviour on their victims. Kekana addressed participated in a dialogue on GBV, held under the theme “Moving from awareness to accountability”, in Zamdela, in the Free State recently. She highlighted the importance of community involvement in the fight against what is considered a second pandemic plaguing the country. She said it was a show of poor accountability that the Fezile Dabi District was a GBV hotspot, and called for cooperation from all stakeholders. ‘All of us must account’ “It’s not right that we see growing cases of GBV in this district and our people – mainly women and children – are abused and killed. All of us must account whenever there’s a case of domestic violence. We want to create an environment that is free from social ills and killing of
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The ongoing health workers’ strike at the Pelonomi Tertiary Hosptial in Bloemfontein has placed the welfare of thousands of patients in jeopardy. Workers downed tools on Tuesday due to ‘unsafe working conditions’ and ‘vacancies’ and vowed not to return until the Free State Department of Health addresses their concerns. Newahu (National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union) is spearheading the stay away protest by mostly security personnel, cleaners, porters and nurses. ‘Nothing new’ Thabo Nkomo, Newahu’s Mangaung branch secretary, told Health-e News that their concerns are nothing new. “We have tried to get the department to address health and safety standards but nothing has been done. You’d recall that our health workers have been victims of crime inside the premises and didn’t receive any help,” said Nkomo. A section of the maternity ward has been under construction for years and Nkomo believes this is a perfect place for criminals to
The Free State Health department has expressed concern at reports of patients throwing away their antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. Almost 2,000 people defaulting on their treatment in the province, which is an increase from last year, provincial spokesperson Mondli Mvambi told Health-e News. Last year 1457 people defaulted on their treatment in the province. Mvambi said it was concerning that not only were people defaulting but they were also throwing away the medication. “We do have cases of patients defaulting with treatments but throwing away treatments is bad because it’s robbing others who need them.” Defaulters are often afraid of stigmatisation Last week Maniki Motlohi staffers also began with a campaign to trace defaulting patients Fear of disclosing their status remains a common reason for defaulting on ARVs treatment, said Sister Matshediso Mokwale, Manager of the Maniki Motlohi Clinic in Botshabelo in Free State. Last week the clinic started a campaign
- ///Free State, News
Clinics and schools in at least two suburbs in Bloemfontein were forced to close after the water supply to the Mangaung municipality was reduced. Bloem water cut water supply by between 30% and 70% after the metro failed to pay the installment on its account. The metro owes Bloem water about R270-million. The water utility said the metro has not paid its account since June. The water reduction is affecting Wepener, Dewetsdorp, Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. This has forced clinics and schools in the suburbs of Grassland and Turflaagte to close temporarily. People now have to travel to alternative clinics. Schools have also postponed exams. Residents unable to get medication Provincial health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said affected clinic staff had been told to report for duty to facilities that remained open. “We have asked our staff to report to duty at the clinics where there is water and diverted
Two people died in two separate incidents as a result of the current heatwave being experienced in Mangaung in the Free State. In the first incident, a man was standing in a line to get his social relief distress grant at a post office in Botshabelo. Witnesses said the man had been asking for water from other people in the line. Someone gave him an empty bottle, and he was going to go find some water but he collapsed after a few steps. “He fell 10 steps from where the line was after he had asked for a bottle so he could find water. He however had no signs of being sick,” said one witness. He died on the scene. Send out water tankers Beneficiaries called on the SA Post office to provide them with water for people standing in the queues. “More people will die when high temperatures continue
Environmental Minister Barbara Creecy welcomed the news that South Africa had secured funding to phase out its coal power. But, warned the transition would have to tackle poverty, unemployment and inequality, issues Zamdela residents know all too well. The country will receive over $8-billion made possible by a climate agreement between SA and the US, France, Germany and the UK. It was announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference which ends in Glasgow, Scotland tomorrow. South Africa will receive the financial package over a ‘three-to-five-year period’, which will help it reduce emissions by 2030. SA is the highest carbon emitter in Africa, and according to the Global Carbon Atlas, it is the 13th biggest CO2 polluter. Coal power currently accounts for about 90% of the country’s electricity and is the single largest contributor to climate change. ‘A transition SA can afford’ Creecy said any transition to a low emissions