Committee to be formed to monitor health issues in Tembisa
ANC finally has their say on Tembisa Hospital
Following the reports of the outbreak of the carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales (CRE) bacteria that claimed lives of babies at Tembisa Hospital, the ANC Zonal Task Team of Andrew Mapheto resolved to engage the relevant structures in the hospital in order to understand the causes and extent of this outbreak.
Speaking to this paper, the ANC ZTT’s coordinator, Pius Mabogoane, said their organisation, as the leader of society, wanted to get facts about the virus from those directly affected, and the implications this might have to the community.
“The hospital management reported that there were 17 cases recorded at the neonatal unit during the November and December 2019 period, and at least ten of these cases involved the babies.
“This is a devastating statistic of loss of life which requires immediate and decisive intervention,” said Mabogoane.
“From a political point of view, the ANC Zonal Task Team has had fruitful engagements with the local alliance structures, the parliamentary constituency office (PCO) management committee, the hospital board and the management,” he said.
Mabogoane said the official report of the Department of Health has confirmed the outbreak was now under control.
“The leadership was educated on the nature of the bacteria, and the inherent challenges of treatment due to this bacteria’s high levels of resistance to antibiotics.”
He said commitment was made in their meeting with the hospital management for the establishment of a community health committee at the hospital, and the undertaking to hold quarterly meetings with all stakeholders to monitor health management interventions on an ongoing basis.
“We have also agreed to communicate these joint efforts to improve the quality of health service in Tembisa Hospital in order to encourage public confidence, and to boost staff morale which has been eroded by a seemingly lack of action,” he said.
He said the ANC would like to extend its condolences to the families of those who lost their dear ones.
“We hope you find solace in the fact that measures have been put into place to prevent any further loss of life.”
He said the PCO will continue to closely monitor the situation, and to play an oversight role to ensure all public institutions were better equipped to deal with such challenges in the future, and to ensure accountability at all times.
