During the apartheid era, Paardekraal Hospital, now Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital, was one of the best hospitals in the country.
Fast forward to today (in the democratic era): the hospital has become a shadow of its former self.
As a matter of fact, it has become a killer house. Yusuf Dadoo must be turning in his grave.
A hospital is there to heal and save lives. However, Yusuf Dadoo in Krugersdorp seems to exist for a different reason: to aggravate the health conditions of and kill patients. If you don’t believe me, ask anyone who has been to that hospital – he or she will tell you.
Since the beginning of this year, Yusuf Dadoo has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Not long ago, a pregnant woman was reported in the media to have delivered her baby without the help of nurses and doctors in that hospital. She was only attended to after the baby was born.
According to media reports, the baby is okay but has developed some complications that need serious medical attention. As a result, the mother and the baby are in and out of hospital. This is as a result of negligence of the hospital but no one is held to account.
The hospital continues to operate as if nothing has happened. The hospital management is doing nothing to right its wrongs. Does it really care? That means more patients will lose their lives due to negligence at that institution. And no one will be held responsible.
After reading the above story, I posted on Facebook expressing my disgust at the poor treatment meted out to the above woman by that hospital. Many women have since come out and related their horrendous experiences with the hospital. I was left weeping.
About ten women have had a similar experience of delivering their own babies without the help of nurses and doctors at Yusuf Dadoo.
Unfortunately, half of them have lost their babies. They live with the pain of losing their kids every day and want nothing to do with that public hospital.
Some related the stories of the people they know (family members, relatives, friends, colleagues etc) who have lost their precious lives at that hospital due to negligence. Those who have survived to tell the story have vowed not to go back to Yusuf Dadoo ever again.
The health authorities are well aware of the problems at the Yusuf Dadoo hospital but are doing nothing to improve the situation. One had thought that the provincial health department has learned something after the Life Esidimeni saga but the reality tells a different story.
Access to quality health service is a right, not privilege.
Denying citizens quality health care is criminal. Citizens must stand up and demand quality health care from government. Otherwise, the status quo will remain.
