Limpopo woman ‘forced’ to give birth outside clinic
The Department of Health in Limpopo has suspended a nurse at Madimbo Clinic, outside Musina, for failing to assist a pregnant woman.
This comes after a pregnant woman apparently gave birth at the clinic’s gate on Wednesday morning.
In a statement released later on Wednesday evening, the department said the clinic does not operate for 24 hours but works on a call system.
“The nurses sleep at the clinic premises and when a patient presents to the facility with an emergency, they are expected to wake up and assist them.
“It is alleged that in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday), a pregnant woman who was already at advanced stage of labour came to the clinic to deliver.
“Unfortunately It is further alleged that the nurse on call who was supposed to assist the woman failed to respond.”
The department says a team has been sent to do thorough investigation on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The mother and the baby were since taken to the nearest hospital and they are both doing well,” the department said.
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo claims the woman was denied entry by security.
The party’s Risham Maharaj says she gave birth outside the gate while waiting for the clinic to open.
“This incident is very worrying as this clinic is meant to operate on a 24 hour basis. It completely strips this young mother of her dignity in what should have been a joyous day for her. Not only did the Limpopo Department of Health yet again fail a resident, incidents like this can result in legal claims against the department.”
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