DA files complaint against Health

The Democratic Alliance Women Network (Dawn) in Limpopo has filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in Polokwane to have the deaths investigated of 68 pregnant women who reportedly died in various hospitals across the province while in labour during the first quarter of the current financial year.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration and the Provincial Chairperson for Dawn, Desiree van der Walt said the issue came to light during the Standing Committee on Public Accounts’ (Scopa) recent public hearing when the Provincial Treasury MEC, Rob Tooley allegedly gave insight into the financial mismanagement and woes of the Department of Health.
Van der Walt said it was clear from the shocking statistics that Health was nowhere near achieving its provincial development plans to reduce maternal, infant and child mortality as aligned to the Millennium Development Goals. The province experienced a large number of infant deaths about three years ago, she said and stated that Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba last Wednesday, during a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, confirmed that she had been made aware of fatalities and would conduct an investigation. Van der Walt explained that they wanted to know who the responsible doctors and nurses were so that they could be held accountable.

She stressed that the DA had submitted Parliamentary questions for written reply to Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi regarding the crisis and that the answers would be debated in Parliament as soon as they were made available.
“I had a new born baby who died in 1986 so I know the pain. We urge the SAHRC to prioritise the case and start investigations as a matter of urgency,” she said and added that Dawn will launch a petition on inefficient maternal health care by the Department of Health to be tabled in Parliament.
Health Spokesperson, Thabiso Teffo said the number projected by the DA was not correct and they viewed the case filed against the department as a cheap political stunt which they would not entertain.
He said if the commission was going to investigate, correct figures would be made available. “Maternal deaths have reduced drastically in the past three years and heads of hospitals and clinics account to the MEC and the Head of Department quarterly if there had been maternal deaths. MEC Ramathuba made it clear during her budget speech that no woman should die while bringing a new life into the world and the department is doing everything possible to reduce maternal deaths.” Teffo did indicate that there was a shortage of health specialists in Limpopo to deal with complicated preg­nancies and that this resulted in maternal deaths.
He explained that resi­dents should bear in mind that when a pregnant woman dies in a car accident, it is reported and recorded as maternal death.
The complaint was received by SAHRC Legal Officer, Thembi Madalane and the commission’s Provincial Manager, Victor Mavhi­dula said the complaint would be assessed.

Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za