No ambulance to help woman in distress
It has been confirmed by the department of health that Brighton Moy, father of the fetus that was allegedly dumped in Westenburg last week, did call for an ambulance and he was told that there was no ambulance to assist him.
POLOKWANE – It has been confirmed by the department of health that Brighton Moy, father of the fetus that was allegedly dumped in Westenburg last week, did call for an ambulance and he was told that there was no ambulance to assist him.
Review reported on the incident where residents found the fetus and immediately called the police. They claimed that the fetus was dumped.
Adelé van der Linde, departmental spokesperson, said a call was received and, at the time of the call, an ambulance was not available to assist the couple.
“The department will be investigating why alternative measures were not taken by the emergency medical services (EMS) to assist the patient. Action will be taken if needed,” Van der Linde said.
According to Moy, he was a man desperate to get assistance for his pregnant wife after she started suffering from abdominal cramps at around 23:00 on Saturday, May 10.
“I did not have the number for the ambulance and, after neighbours could not help us, I walked to the Westenburg police station to ask for assistance. They gave me the number for the ambulance. I phoned for help, but minutes thereafter I received a call from the ambulance call centre.
“They said that there was no ambulance available,” he said.
Police officials at the police station advised him to find someone to take his wife to hospital.
“I walked back to fetch my wife and, as we were walking to the house of the person who offered us a lift, my wife had a miscarriage. I had to make a decision. I had to leave the fetus behind and make sure my wife got to hospital before she bled to death.”
Upon his return, he found the police and some residents at the scene. The residents then accused him of dumping the fetus.
According to several Westenburg residents, ambulances don’t respond to emergencies in the area promptly, sometimes not at all.
Review also recently reported on the dire state of the EMS in Limpopo and this case seems to highlight this problem.
A case of concealment of birth is still being investigated by the Westenburg police.
Col Ronel Otto, provincial police spokesperson, said the police acted correctly by giving the man the number of the ambulance services.
“According to the law, the South African Police Service is not allowed to transport someone who needs medical assistance to hospital. Only medical personnel, for example EMS workers, can do that,” Otto explained.
