Sue hospital for this shocking treatment
Obviously nothing will improve until every victim refuses to accept the abuse
MR TA PURDEN of Glen Marais writes:
I read an article in Express by Siyabonga Ngwenya (Tube left in girl’s leg), which told the disturbing tale of a little girl, Sinazo Momoza, (7) who had both her legs amputated from the knee.
According to her mother, a plastic tube was left in her daughter’s leg at OR Tambo Memorial Hospital after a minor procedure of draining an abscess, and later at Tembisa Hospital, the medical staff merely broke the tube off, leaving a piece in the wound.
I was so angry that I felt the need to write this letter, firstly to express my fury and also to offer advice to the Momoza family, which I hope that your reporter can convey to them.
I was moved by her humble comment to Express: “I don’t want to fight with the hospital. I just want people to know about the experience my daughter and I went through there.” Indeed, it’s something no South African should have to endure at the hands of a state institution. An earlier report in Express alluded to Tembisa Hospital being the most dangerous in Gauteng with a shocking 71 serious adverse events (SAE) recorded from January 2012 to September 2013.
Obviously nothing will improve until every victim refuses to accept the abuse and holds the authorities and deficient so-called care-givers to account. New Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, was recently interviewed on Radio 702 and promised to intervene in serious cases of maltreatment if aggrieved patients contact her personally at qedani.mahlangu@gauteng.gov.za
Perhaps Express can assist the family in this regard? Alternatively, there are various avenues to obtain free legal assistance to get redress, such as legal clinics at all university law schools. The Legal Aid SA Bureau has 1 700 lawyers available to assist, at no cost, low income people with litigation. Their contact number is 0800110110.
I earnestly suggest that the Momoza family pursue this matter to get compensation from the Gauteng Health Department.
Little Sinazo has a whole life ahead of her without the use of her limbs which will greatly affect any career prospects, and as such, undoubtedly deserves a sizable financial compensation award.
Criminal charges can also be laid with the police, preferably against the actual nursing staff, and not just the Gauteng Health Department, so that they are personally held accountable for what they have done.
And legal aid can also assist in civil litigation for financial damages.
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