Nurses and a clerk hailed for arrest of illegal abortion doctor
The North West MEC for Health, Dr Magome Masike has hailed as heroic nurses and a clerk who led to the arrest of a bogus doctor in Brits. A police case has since been opened against a bogus doctor with regard to the contravention of the Medicine Act 101 of 1965 (as amended). The “doctor” is charged with unlicensed distribution of medicine and related products.
A 27 year old female was admitted at Brits District Hospital with suspicion of illegal abortion. The acting unit operational manager at the hospital, Sister Motake confirms that they admitted the patient with history of previous caesarean section X1. The patient delivered a still born weighing 660g.
On enquiring of the patient history and examination, the Professional Nurse identified that the she had induced labour and she later confessed that she had bought tablets for abortion from a certain “doctor”. The patient further described the location of the accused to the nurse and informed her that she bought the medication for R1500.
In relating how they planned the arrest of the accused, the Acting Hospital CEO, Ms Moromane says she requested sister Motake to find one staff member who can pose as a patient so that they can go to purchase the medication from the said “doctor”.
“A Maternity lay counsellor and the admin clerk volunteered as they were not in uniform and were willing to go to purchase the medication. We then drove to the said building where the bogus doctor sold them 5 cytotec tablets and one tablet I could not identify. We then together with the two colleagues and Sister Motake drove to the police station where a case of unlicensed distribution of medicine and related products was opened”, said Ms Moromane.
On the same day, five people including the accused were incarcerated at Brits Police Station. The exhibit was then left in the care of police officers.
“This arrest is a breakthrough because we have had a number of campaigns against illegal and unsafe abortion. The department already had a number of joint campaigns with the South African Police Service and National Prosecuting Authority not only to raise awareness against illegal abortion but to urge members of the public to help us identify and arrest these bogus doctors who are perpetrators of this hideous act”, said MEC Masike
The Department of Health is promoting the pregnancy resolutions as informed by the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act (Act 92 of 1996) which came into effect from the 1st of February 1997. The purpose of the new dispensation CTOP has been to promote reproductive rights and to extend freedom of choice by affording every woman the right to choose whether to have an early, safe and legal termination of pregnancy according to her individual beliefs.
Regardless of efforts to raise awareness against illegal abortion and promotion of CTOP, the department has seen a sharp increase in cases of illegal and unsafe abortion which are evident to PV Bleeding and Manual evacuations (miscarriages). A total of 927 PV bleeding cases have been reported between April 2015 and March 2016.
Abortion has since 1975 been legalised in South Africa. However, the Abortion and Sterilisation act of 1975 was very restrictive as it left the decision about abortion to medical practitioners who applied to the State for permission to terminate. This afforded (mainly) white urban women access to safe and legal terminations.
That arrangement obviously led other disadvantaged women to consider using backstreet abortionists who are often unskilled and operate under unhygienic settings. Many women lost their lives through the use of dangerous concoctions some of which were corrosive to tissues or by inserting objects intra-uterine to poke at the foetus with consequences of sepsis or injury.
“It is important that women especially young women begin to take their lives seriously. Stay away from backstreet abortionist! Many of young women who go to these backstreet abortionists often come back to our health facilities with severe complications which are costly to treat.
In the North-West Province, we have 15 Health institutions comprising of (Hospitals, Community Health Centres and clinics) that are designated for Choice of termination of pregnancy. These health facilities offer safe, clean and reliable services. By utilising these facilities you will be saving yourself from possible harm and most probably from unnecessary fatalities”, said MEC Masike.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958E
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
